Antisocial Behaviour

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures are being taken to tackle tenants who are involved in antisocial behaviour and who live in housing association or public sector housing; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Department launched the Respect Standard for Housing Management in August 2006. This is a voluntary standard aimed at all social landlords and establishes a blueprint for tackling antisocial behaviour effectively through action on prevention, support and enforcement.
	The Standard builds on the successes of a large number of landlords over the past few years. Use of the new tools and powers we have provided landlords with, is increasing (including antisocial behaviour injunctions and demotion).
	We have made it mandatory for all social landlords to have published Policies and Procedures in place for tackling antisocial behaviour. We work closely with the Home Office to promote best practice and support housing practitioners in adopting these approaches in their local context.

Departmental Childcare Facilities

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  which of her Department's premises have childcare facilities on site;
	(2)  what childcare  (a) provision and  (b) assistance is available to her Department's staff.

Angela Smith: The Department for Communities and Local Government provides vouchers for staff with caring responsibilities for children aged 15 and under (16 if they are covered by the Disability Discrimination Act) to use towards the cost of childcare with Ofsted registered childcare providers.
	In addition there are onsite nursery facilities for staff at the Fire Service College agency, and there are offsite facilities available for staff in the Planning Inspectorate agency.

Deputy Prime Minister

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many of her Department's staff are on secondment to the Deputy Prime Minister; and what the function of each is.

Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 9 October 2006,  Official Report, (column 72W).

Equality Act

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what actions are being taken under Schedule 1, Part 1, Section 2 of the Equality Act 2006 to ensure that experience and knowledge of issues relating to non-religious belief are being addressed in the appointment of Commissioners.

Meg Munn: The Equality Act requires the Secretary of State to have regard to the desirability of the Commissioners together having experience and knowledge relating to the relevant matters. However, this does not imply that there will be strand-specific Commissioners and it is right that the CEHR adopt a cross-strand approach to meet the needs of 21(st) century society.
	The advertisement made specific mention of belief to encourage applications from candidates with expertise in belief as distinct from religion. The criteria for these posts also included the following criterion, which I consider relevant to your question:
	"[Having] A demonstrable commitment to, and understanding of, the wider context of the equalities, human rights, good relations agendas and an understanding of the communities CEHR will champion and the issues they face".
	The process, therefore, is designed to encourage applications from the widest range candidates possible. This, together with the staff and resources that will be made available to it, will enable the CEHR to promote equality of opportunity and to work towards the elimination of unlawful discrimination on behalf of all those issues, covered by the equality legislation including belief.

Home Information Packs

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2006 to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar,  Official Report, column 1656W, on home information packs, what estimate she has made of the number of properties which will remain on the market for more than six months.

Yvette Cooper: Research is in progress which will provide information on the time that homes currently remain on the market. We will examine as part of the dry-run the potential for speeding up the process as well as the costs of any necessary refreshment of pack documents.

Home Information Packs

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 May 2006,  Official Report, column 204W, on home information packs, if she will list the organisations representing consumers who are strongly in favour of home information packs.

Yvette Cooper: Which? has made many representations to the Department supporting HIPs over several years. They have also made representations against the 18 July 2006 announcement on home condition reports.

Home Information Packs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1657W, on home information pack, if she will place in the Library a copy of the representation from the Valuation Office Agency made to her Department in relation to the database of home condition reports; and on what date the representation was made by the Agency.

Yvette Cooper: Representation on the home condition report register was made by the Valuation Office Agency on 11 August 2005. The information was provided in confidence as it relates to potential developments in the Agency's business in which decisions have yet to be taken. Disclosure would therefore be inappropriate.
	The Valuation Office Agency will not have access to a home condition report register: this will be limited to buyers, sellers, their advisers and mortgage lenders and those monitoring the performance and quality of the reports.

Home Information Packs

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether  (a) an energy performance certificate and  (b) a home information pack is required for the private sale of a home between two individuals.

Yvette Cooper: EU Directive 2002/9I/EC, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires member states to introduce measures that require energy performance certificates to be made available when buildings are constructed, sold or rented out. Private sales between two individuals are not excluded from the scope of the directive.
	The Housing Act 2004 provides that a Home Information Pack may be required when a residential property is marketed for sale "to the public or a section of the public". A private sale between individuals is unlikely to involve marketing to a "section of the public" and a Home Information Pack would therefore not be required in these cases.

Home Information Packs

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her latest estimate is of the number of qualified home inspectors.

Yvette Cooper: Latest figures indicate that 470 Home Inspectors have completed their training, of which 177 have been issued with their certificate.

Retirement Homes

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the arrangements to inform and protect elderly homebuyers purchasing time-limited retirement homes; how many complaints were made to the Government concerning such schemes in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Department for Communities and Local Government, HM Treasury and the Financial Services Authority are not aware of the product mentioned with older people purchasing 'time-limited retirement homes'. The majority of privately owned retirement homes are purchased on long leases. Other products which might possibly be similar to the 'time limited retirement homes' mentioned, include home reversion plans and lifetime leases. We are not aware of complaints regarding 'time-limited retirement homes'.
	Regarding home reversion plans, the Government have recently announced that it plans to extend the regulatory remit of the Financial Services Authority to include Home Reversion Plans from 6 April 2007. The FSA-managed regulatory regime currently covers first charge residential mortgages. Lifetime leases are a form of property transaction and as they do not involve the provision of finance, there are at present no plans to bring them under the regulation of the Financial Services Authority.

Appeals (Lost Files)

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many benefit cases appeals have been found in favour of the appellant because her Department has been unable to locate the appellant's case files in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The information you have asked for is not available in the format requested as data is recorded by the appeal outcome and benefit type rather specific grounds for appeal.

Departmental Staff

Susan Kramer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many disabled people were hired by her Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what percentage of the overall workforce these figures represented in each year; and how many disabled people left employment in her Department over the same period.

Vera Baird: Data on the disability status of entrants and leavers in the Department for Constitutional Affairs for 2005, 2004 and 2003 is in the following tables.
	Data for 2001 and 2002 could not be produced without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Central data on disability statistics is collected via a voluntary confidential questionnaire, which is sent to all staff.
	
		
			  Table AF: Entrants by department and disability status 2002-03, non industrial and industrial staff 
			   Headcount 
			  Lord Chancellors Department  
			 Disabled 20 
			 All entrants 1,610 
			 Disabled entrants as a percentage of all entrants 1.1 
			 Staff in post 12,530 
		
	
	
		
			  Table AF: Entrants by department and disability status 2003-04, non industrial and industrial staff 
			   Headcount 
			  Department for Constitutional Affairs  
			 Disabled 20 
			 All entrants 1,250 
			 Disabled entrants as a percentage of all entrants 1.4 
			 Staff in post 12,750 
		
	
	
		
			  Table AE: Entrants by department and disability status 2004-05, non industrial and industrial staff 
			   Headcount 
			  Department for Constitutional Affairs  
			 Disabled 10 
			 All entrants 1,530 
			 Disabled entrants as a percentage of all entrants 0.3 
			 Staff in post 13,610 
		
	
	
		
			  Table AJ: Leavers by department and disability status 2002-03, non industrial and industrial staff 
			   Headcount 
			  Lord Chancellors Department  
			 Disabled 50 
			 All leavers 1,130 
			 Disabled leavers as a percentage of all leavers 4.5 
			 Staff in post 12,530 
		
	
	
		
			  Table AJ: Leavers by department and disability status 2003-04, non industrial and industrial staff 
			  
			   Headcount 
			  Department for Constitutional Affairs  
			 Disabled 40 
			 All leavers 1,190 
			 Disabled leavers as a percentage of all leavers 3.2 
			 Staff in post 12,750 
		
	
	
		
			  Table AI: Leavers by department and disability status 2004-05, non industrial and industrial staff 
			   Headcount 
			  Department for Constitutional Affairs  
			 Disabled 30 
			 All leavers 1,120 
			 Disabled leavers as a percentage of all leavers 2.9 
			 Staff in post 13,610

Freedom of Information Act

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how costs are currently calculated in relation to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and whether she has any plans to change the basis for this calculation.

Harriet Harman: The Freedom of Information and Data Protection (appropriate limit and fees) Regulations 2004 set out how costs are currently calculated. The regulations set an appropriate upper limit of £600 for central Government and £450 for other authorities above which authorities are not obliged to comply with requests.
	In determining whether the upper limit has been exceeded public authorities are limited to considering those costs they reasonably expect to incur in: determining whether it holds the information requested, locating the information or documents containing the information, retrieving such information or documents, and extracting the information from the document containing it (including editing or redacting information).
	Under the current regime, Departments can also, where appropriate, charge disbursements for providing information to applicants.
	The fees regime is still under review and the Government have not yet made a decision on what changes should be made to the present regime.

Inquests

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs under what circumstances an inquest which has been closed may be reopened; and who has the authority to require an inquest to be reopened.

Harriet Harman: There is no provision for an inquest which has been closed to be reopened. Under Section 13 of the Coroners Act 1988, however, any inquest whether by reason of fraud, rejection of evidence, irregularity of proceedings, insufficiency of inquiry, the discovery of new facts or evidence or otherwise may be quashed and a fresh inquest ordered by the High Court. In such cases, which need permission from the Attorney General, the court will decide whether it is necessary or desirable in the interests of justice that another inquest be held. Any decision by a coroner may also be subject to judicial review proceedings.

Cultural Olympiad

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what range of events is planned for the cultural Olympiad in the run-up to 2012; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: There are a range of cultural activities already planned to accompany the 2012 Games. These fall into three categories:
	1. The International Olympic Committee's mandatory ceremonies that LOCOG will host, ranging from the handover ceremony in Beijing, and the Olympic and Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies, to the Olympic Youth Camps and the torch relay;
	2. The projects outlined as part of the UK's bid, for example the Film and Video Nation, an International Shakespeare Festival, a World Youth Festival and a Proms programme;
	3. We also envisage a third category -a cultural festival in the run up to the Games showcasing a wide range of cultural and creative sectors across the UK.
	We are currently working closely with LOCOG and other stakeholders to develop a framework to enable delivery of the whole cultural programme.

Craft Education

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the provision of craft education in school and colleges.

Phil Hope: In the design and technology curriculum, pupils combine craft skills with modern technologies to design and make products. Through 14-19 reform, we are ensuring that every young person can access a practical education. This includes new employer led diplomas available from 2008 that will be a high quality blend of general education and applied learning.

Drugs Tests

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in England have programmes in place to test pupils for drugs.

Jim Knight: Schools do not have to inform the Department but we know of three maintained schools which have programmes in place to test pupils for drugs. We are also working with Kent local authority to carry out an evaluation of drug testing in schools. We expect more schools to take part in this evaluation.

School Exclusions

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information he collects on trends in school exclusions.

Jim Knight: We collect data on school exclusions which enable us to analyse the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions and identify trends, taking into account factors such as age and gender, ethnic group and special educational needs. In 2004/05 there were just 9,440 permanent exclusions which represents just over a 20 per cent. decrease from the peak of 12,668 permanent exclusions in 1997.

Truancy

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils missed school due to unauthorised absence on at least one occasion in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: Figures for 2005/06, published on 21 September, showed that in England the unauthorised absence rate was 0.79 per cent. Some 1.4 million pupils were recorded as having missed at least one half day school session without permission.

Truancy

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 24 July 2006,  Official Report, column 852W, on truancy, how many pupils there were in maintained mainstream secondary schools in each year since 1997-98 in  (a) rural and  (b) non-rural areas; what definition of rurality his Department uses; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 18 September 2006
	The pupil numbers requested are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of pupils in maintained mainstream secondary schools( 1)  in England 
			   Rural areas  Urban areas  Total 
			 1997/98 389,283 2,620,531 3,009,814 
			 1998/99 402,315 2,704,363 3,106,678 
			 1999/2000 414,166 2,755,831 3,169,997 
			 2000/01 418,311 2,789,619 3,207,930 
			 2001/02 428,546 2,829,683 3,258.229 
			 2002/03 435,721 2,863,511 3,299,232 
			 2003/04 440,185 2,882,159 3,322,344 
			 2004/05 445,273 2,880,806 3,326,079 
			 2005/06(2) 446,159 2,888,092 3,334,251 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. Excludes city technology colleges.(2) Provisional. 
		
	
	The urban and rural classifications used in this table are based on those drawn up in 2004 by the Countryside Agency, DEFRA, ODPM, ONS and the Welsh Assembly Government. The classification is based on population densities across the whole spectrum of 'settlements', or built-up areas, in England and Wales. Urban areas are defined as settlements with a population of 10,000 or more. Census Output Areas (OAs) are described as urban or rural depending on whether the majority of the population falls inside a settlement of population 10,000 or more.
	Secondly, the classification enables areas to be defined as predominantly urban or predominantly town and fringe, predominantly village or predominantly dispersed (which includes hamlets and isolated dwellings). The town and fringe, village, hamlet and isolated dwelling classifications are taken as being rural.

Information Sharing

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the need for an information-sharing index for children.

Beverley Hughes: The 2003 Laming inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie identified the urgent need for better sharing of information between children's services and every inquiry into a child's death before that has also done so. Since Lord Laming reported, substantial consultation with local service managers, practitioners and the public, supported by evidence from local authority Trailblazer projects, has identified the benefits that arise from introducing an information sharing index in terms of safeguarding children more effectively and efficiently. Three independent research reports during 2004 supported the business case and have informed index design.

A-levels

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils sat A-levels in mathematics or sciences in the 2005/06 academic year.

Jim Knight: Information on the number of pupils sitting A-levels in mathematics and the sciences this summer is not yet available. Provisional figures will be published on 19 October.

Departmental Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent by his Department on food and alcohol for its staff working out of office in each year since 2001-02.

Parmjit Dhanda: DfES staff may claim a range of subsistence allowances when they are working away from their duty station on departmental business.
	Day subsistence helps with the extra costs that they may pay, for instance, for meals because they are unfamiliar with the area visited.
	Overnight subsistence is an allowance intended to cover the extra costs involved in spending nights away from home on official business. The place visited must be beyond reasonable daily travelling distance and so may be claimed if staff have to travel the night before they start work, or if they cannot reasonably expect to get home the same night as they finish work.
	Travel and subsistence is claimed and authorised online via the Departments integrated financial information system and is recorded under the general heading of subsistence.
	All expenditure is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in "Government Accounting".

Disabled Students' Allowance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many postgraduate students claimed the disabled students' allowance in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many  (a) part-time and  (b) full-time students claimed the disabled students' allowance in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The number of student support scheme students in England and Wales in receipt of a disabled students' allowance between 2001/02 and 2005/06 is given in the table:
	
		
			  Academic year  2001/02  2002/03  2003/04( 1)  2004/05  2005/06( 2) 
			 Postgraduate students(3) 730 1,000 n/a 2,060 2,040 
			 Part-time undergraduate students(3) 740 1,040 n/a 1,730 1,750 
			 Full-time undergraduate students(3) 18,690 24,750 n/a 30,510 30,840 
			 (1) Due to a change in reporting arrangements, data are not centrally available for 2003/04.(2) Provisional.(3) Numbers rounded to the nearest 10 students.   Source: DfES F503G survey of Local Authorities, Student Loans Company (SLC)

National Music Week

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what financial contribution was made by private companies to the activities taking place in schools during national music week;
	(2)  what criteria were used to select the 10 artists to be featured in the my music project in schools during national music week;
	(3)  how the opportunity to participate in the my music project in schools during national music week was advertised to recording artists and music companies.

Jim Knight: National music week, including the my music project in schools, is being run by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA).
	They are responsible for all the publicity and logistics for the week including the choosing of artists. Through the music manifesto, the Department made a contribution to supporting the educational element of national music week.

School Leavers

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of school leavers in Hornsey and Wood Green went on to  (a) higher education,  (b) university and  (c) further vocational education in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The latest available figures on participation in higher education by constituency were published by the Higher Education funding Council for England in January 2005 in "Young Participation in England", which is available from their website at http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_03/ This report shows participation rates for young people who enter higher education aged 18 or 19, disaggregated by constituency, for the years 1997 to 2000. The figures for Hornsey and Wood Green, and the comparable figure for England, are shown in the table. HEFCE have not produced participation rates beyond 2000.
	
		
			  Young participation rate (YPR (a)) in higher education 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000 
			 Year cohort aged 18 in Hornsey and Wood Green (Number) 1,030 990 1,050 1,000 
			 Participation rate for Hornsey and Wood Green(1) (Percentage) 44 45 45 44 
			 Participation rate for England (Percentage) 29.2 28.8 29.2 29.9 
			 (1) Participation rates for constituencies are reported to the nearest whole number.   Source: Higher Education Funding Council for England. 
		
	
	The total number of entrants from Hornsey and Wood Green for each year since 2001/02 are given in the table:
	
		
			  Entrants to undergraduate courses from Hornsey and Wood Green 
			   2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05 
			 Aged 18-19 455 505 520 530 
			 Aged Over 19 1,505 1,535 1,375 1,295 
			 Total Entrants 1,960 2,040 1,895 1,825 
			  Note:  Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5, so components may not sum to totals.   Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). 
		
	
	The Department uses the higher education initial participation rate (HEIPR) to assess progress on increasing first-time participation of English students aged 18-30 in higher education towards 50 per cent.: the latest provisional figure for 2004/05 is 42 per cent. The HEIPR is not calculated at constituency level.
	Figures on participation in further education by young people are not available for parliamentary constituencies. Figures are available by local education authority but not for individual inner London LEAs.

Social Services

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have been  (a) abused and  (b) killed while under the care of or after the engagement of the duty of care of the social services in each year since 2001.

Parmjit Dhanda: Information on the number of children abused or killed while under the care of social services (that is, children who are "looked after" by their local authority for the purposes of the Children Act 1989) is not collected centrally.
	However, information on the number of looked after children who die each year and the official causes of death is collected and shown in table 1. This information has been collected by the Department since 2003. All numbers stated are rounded.
	
		
			  Cause of death of children looked after( 1,2,3) 
			   Number of children  Percentage 
			   2003  2004  2005  2003  2004  2005 
			  All children looked after at 31 March 67,600 68,100 67,700 100 100 100 
			 All children excluding children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements 60,800 61,100 60,900 90 90 90 
			 Children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements 6,800 6,900 6,800 10 10 10 
			
			  Total number of children who died and cause of death( 4) 110 95 100 100 100 100 
			 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases — 10 5 — 7 6 
			 Diseases of the nervous system 30 25 15 26 23 15 
			  Of which:   
			 Episodic and paroxysmal disorders (epilepsy) 5 10 — 6 7 — 
			 Cerebral palsy and other paralytic syndromes 20 10 10 17 10 8 
			
			 Diseases of the respiratory system 10 — 10 9 — 9 
			 Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities 20 5 15 17 6 14 
			 Diseases of blood, heart and circulatory system 5 5 5 6 6 6 
			 External causes of morbidity and mortality 20 10 10 20 9 10 
			 Other 20 5 10 17 6 7 
			 Not known — 30 30 — 29 27 
			 (1) Figures include children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements.  (2) Derived from SSDA903 return.  (3) Underlying cause of death code derived by the automatic cause coding system using the codes for all the causes mentioned on the death certificate. The definition of the code is identified using the International Classification of Deaths, 10th Revision (ICD10) manual.  (4) Since these data were first collected in 2003 approximately one-third of the children who died, for each year, were looked after under an agreed series of short term placements.   Notes:  1. 2002-03 figures have been grossed up from a one third sample.  2. The data were collected by matching child records from SSDA903 to death certificates. A special matching exercise was carried out for the 2002-03 data, so there was a low rate of mismatch. The normal data collection was used in 2003-04 and 2004-05, and it was not possible to uniquely identify one third of the records. Therefore results need to be treated with caution.

Special Needs Education

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been allocated to special needs education in England in each of the last five years, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Phil Hope: The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas rather than at constituency level. The following table contains the available information:
	
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with special educational( 1, 2)  needs by local authorities since 2002-03. Cash terms figures( 3)  as reported by local authorities( 4)  as at 5 September 2006( 5) 
			  £ 
			   Budgeted net expenditure on the education of children with special educational needs( 1,) ( 2) 
			  Local authority  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 England 3,038,661,000 3,466,180,000 3,774,757,000 4,120,549,000 4,474,683,000 
			 Barking and Dagenham 17,099,000 18,891,000 23,316,000 25,070,000 26,652,000 
			 Barnet 17,212,000 18,804,000 20,699,000 21,963,000 23,408,000 
			 Barnsley 19,137,000 21,263,000 23,350,000 23,908,000 25,700,000 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 17,190,000 27,098,000 27,139,000 27,051,000 31,277,000 
			 Bedfordshire 9,064,000 11,289,000 12,721,000 13,564,000 14,737,000 
			 Bexley 16,549,000 23,357,000 22,286,000 27,542,000 30,201,000 
			 Birmingham 14,984,000 16,562,000 18,082,000 18,491,000 19,167,000 
			 Blackburn and Darwen 8,774,000 9,979,000 11,076,000 10,574,000 11,475,000 
			 Blackpool 6,295,000 7,723,000 8,358,000 8,459,000 9,472,000 
			 Bolton 18,690,000 20,443,000 23,688,000 35,951,000 28,174,000 
			 Bournemouth 27,346,000 31,417,000 39,689,000 42,763,000 45,838,000 
			 Bracknell Forest 20,328,000 27,267,000 30,944,000 35,692,000 39,836,000 
			 Bradford 12,466,000 15,930,000 18,090,000 19,091,000 20,715,000 
			 Brent 29,588,000 36,621,000 41,540,000 46,063,000 57,542,000 
			 Brighton and Hove 11,634,000 13,134,000 13,464,000 13,766,000 14,776,000 
			 Bromley 11,099,000 12,551,000 13,375,000 15,915,000 16,940,000 
			 Buckinghamshire 35,864,000 31,827,000 35,502,000 44,326,000 47,650,000 
			 Bury 9,753,000 10,931,000 11,073,000 11,452,000 11,664,000 
			 Calderdale 5,460,000 6,869,000 7,434,000 8,093,000 8,938,000 
			 Cambridgeshire 17,211,000 10,163,000 11,886,000 12,850,000 24,799,000 
			 Camden 26,784,000 31,236,000 33,519,000 35,919,000 39,566,000 
			 Cheshire 10,653,000 13,096,000 15,107,000 15,810,000 19,076,000 
			 City of Bristol 33,762,000 37,824,000 26,340,000 48,686,000 52,841,000 
			 City of Kingston-upon-Hull 17,972,000 18,928,000 21,131,000 22,269,000 24,772,000 
			 City of London 11,935,000 12,812,000 15,361,000 17,273,000 10,185,000 
			 Cornwall 18,181,000 17,295,000 19,097,000 22,321,000 26,658,000 
			 Coventry 26,055,000 29,866,000 31,959,000 33,357,000 35,502,000 
			 Croydon 9,503,000 13,950,000 14,336,000 15,728,000 17,758,000 
			 Cumbria 18,815,000 19,980,000 25,704,000 27,833,000 26,843,000 
			 Darlington 17,414,000 15,686,000 17,456,000 18,088,000 18,386,000 
			 Derby 8,780,000 16,444,000 18,301,000 20,320,000 21,956,000 
			 Derbyshire 29,158,000 32,934,000 36,021,000 38,168,000 42,193,000 
			 Devon 43,505,000 52,707,000 59,548,000 62,075,000 63,829,000 
			 Doncaster 16,395,000 20,330,000 21,412,000 23,867,000 27,061,000 
			 Dorset 33,316,000 34,350,000 39,028,000 32,012,000 36,964,000 
			 Dudley 17,670,000 19,074,000 19,641,000 21,624,000 22,788,000 
			 Durham 14,787,000 16,936,000 18,620,000 20,337,000 23,188,000 
			 Ealing 36,290,000 44,958,000 42,980,000 45,120,000 47,217,000 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 14,476,000 16,418,000 18,893,000 19,778,000 21,666,000 
			 East Sussex 7,613,000 5,411,000 9,086,000 9,383,000 10,368,000 
			 Enfield 13,056,000 15,388,000 16,790,000 19,673,000 19,867,000 
			 Essex 11,517,000 13,819,000 17,297,000 19,099,000 16,310,000 
			 Gateshead 12,973,000 13,548,000 13,715,000 14,292,000 14,481,000 
			 Gloucestershire 10,150,000 11,357,000 12,315,000 13,275,000 15,056,000 
			 Greenwich 11,632,000 13,108,000 13,937,000 14,700,000 15,964,000 
			 Hackney 7,846,000 8,522,000 8,743,000 9,639,000 10,017,000 
			 Halton 20,208,000 23,129,000 26,440,000 28,224,000 28,555,000 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 18,838,000 24,669,000 26,198,000 27,455,000 31,224,000 
			 Hampshire 8,259,000 6,780,000 10,324,000 12,313,000 13,390,000 
			 Haringey 36,732,000 43,613,000 47,962,000 58,423,000 65,851,000 
			 Harrow 28,361,000 30,917,000 30,758,000 32,844,000 35,097,000 
			 Hartlepool 28,448,000 35,869,000 33,912,000 38,646,000 54,584,000 
			 Havering 17,033,000 19,679,000 21,643,000 22,823,000 23,838,000 
			 Herefordshire 69,738,000 82,021,000 93,017,000 100,952,000 106,330,000 
			 Hertfordshire 32,508,000 37,871,000 41,677,000 44,692,000 47,384,000 
			 Hillingdon 336,000 401,000 432,000 398,000 377,000 
			 Hounslow 24,489,000 28,480,000 29,051,000 29,923,000 34,862,000 
			 Isle of Wight 7,664,000 9,260,000 10,499,000 11,758,000 13,057,000 
			 Isles of Scilly 32,413,000 39,883,000 43,789,000 45,882,000 49,728,000 
			 Islington 17,731,000 21,465,000 21,511,000 23,460,000 25,723,000 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 99,409,000 113,255,000 124,938,000 131,932,000 148,725,000 
			 Kent 12,757,000 12,519,000 16,031,000 12,466,000 17,980,000 
			 Kingston upon Thames 19,805,000 22,373,000 24,564,000 25,827,000 27,627,000 
			 Kirklees 84,874,000 117,265,000 100,270,000 133,843,000 128,769,000 
			 Knowsley 19,667,000 23,536,000 26,770,000 27,851,000 28,435,000 
			 Lambeth 14,392,000 16,207,000 17,320,000 19,210,000 20,652,000 
			 Lancashire 10,765,000 12,565,000 12,509,000 13,614,000 14,437,000 
			 Leeds 10,363,000 10,671,000 12,073,000 13,095,000 13,900,000 
			 Leicester 13,400,000 14,687,000 15,671,000 17,076,000 18,455,000 
			 Leicestershire 7,935,000 10,085,000 11,679,000 12,170,000 11,465,000 
			 Lewisham 9,985,000 12,895,000 12,827,000 13,556,000 14,241,000 
			 Lincolnshire 50,632,000 54,732,000 58,883,000 51,014,000 76,617,000 
			 Liverpool 69,328,000 75,876,000 81,359,000 87,946,000 96,982,000 
			 Luton 10,599,000 11,905,000 15,837,000 16,151,000 17,038,000 
			 Manchester 9,280,000 10,297,000 12,558,000 13,901,000 12,063,000 
			 Medway 10,584,000 12,381,000 13,271,000 14,151,000 14,978,000 
			 Merton 21,252,000 24,969,000 25,453,000 29,434,000 31,037,000 
			 Middlesbrough 18,325,000 22,817,000 24,297,000 24,726,000 26,626,000 
			 Milton Keynes 34,506,000 36,174,000 41,370,000 44,064,000 48,735,000 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 20,900,000 23,896,000 26,150,000 27,537,000 29,986,000 
			 Newham 29,097,000 28,807,000 29,383,000 29,903,000 32,848,000 
			 Norfolk 9,760,000 11,901,000 12,750,000 17,506,000 18,241,000 
			 North East Lincolnshire 24,554,000 28,901,000 31,592,000 37,180,000 39,891,000 
			 North Lincolnshire 38,304,000 42,233,000 44,946,000 48,604,000 51,472,000 
			 North Somerset 28,671,000 26,140,000 25,510,000 29,166,000 31,394,000 
			 North Tyneside 86,666,000 99,347,000 106,320,000 109,113,000 118,120,000 
			 North Yorkshire 8,609,000 11,888,000 12,432,000 13,955,000 17,938,000 
			 Northamptonshire 18,177,000 20,046,000 21,306,000 21,391,000 21,879,000 
			 Northumberland 20,829,000 23,839,000 25,703,000 28,149,000 30,429,000 
			 Nottingham City 12,073,000 14,494,000 15,917,000 17,799,000 18,355,000 
			 Nottinghamshire 22,926,000 27,202,000 29,593,000 33,297,000 37,003,000 
			 Oldham 64,668,000 72,771,000 78,183,000 81,129,000 84,592,000 
			 Oxfordshire 6,284,000 7,904,000 9,269,000 10,503,000 11,987,000 
			 Peterborough 11,973,000 13,003,000 14,289,000 14,693,000 15,464,000 
			 Plymouth 13,252,000 14,181,000 17,038,000 20,558,000 19,475,000 
			 Poole 13,056,000 14,871,000 15,819,000 17,680,000 17,486,000 
			 Portsmouth 14,655,000 16,587,000 19,880,000 20,907,000 24,039,000 
			 Reading 11,125,000 12,335,000 13,814,000 14,757,000 18,464,000 
			 Redbridge 5,122,000 6,133,000 6,699,000 7,490,000 7,890,000 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 12,696,000 13,467,000 14,001,000 16,888,000 19,476,000 
			 Richmond upon Thames 15,314,000 18,185,000 22,029,000 24,248,000 27,015,000 
			 Rochdale 20,411,000 21,628,000 26,314,000 27,455,000 29,883,000 
			 Rotherham 8,425,000 9,394,000 9,933,000 10,429,000 10,356,000 
			 Rutland 18,004,000 19,876,000 21,618,000 23,492,000 23,823,000 
			 Salford 12,030,000 14,794,000 18,630,000 20,632,000 20,509,000 
			 Sandwell 26,424,000 29,875,000 30,293,000 30,273,000 36,640,000 
			 Sefton 30,971,000 33,530,000 36,562,000 39,161,000 42,524,000 
			 Sheffield 57,000 58,000 53,000 221,000 211,000 
			 Shropshire 15,103,000 18,328,000 18,826,000 22,217,000 25,110,000 
			 Slough 26,714,000 29,068,000 30,023,000 33,934,000 37,238,000 
			 Solihull 22,588,000 23,075,000 24,729,000 25,931,000 29,365,000 
			 Somerset 21,377,000 24,853,000 25,931,000 27,849,000 31,093,000 
			 South Gloucestershire 14,765,000 15,673,000 17,867,000 17,431,000 21,541,000 
			 South Tyneside 42,897,000 46,444,000 50,882,000 53,623,000 55,013,000 
			 Southampton 6,781,000 9,432,000 10,360,000 10,817,000 10,454,000 
			 Southend 29,012,000 32,374,000 41,529,000 43,991,000 50,159,000 
			 Southwark 15,900,000 17,216,000 18,983,000 19,429,000 21,987,000 
			 St. Helens 11,292,000 10,722,000 12,226,000 14,414,000 16,503,000 
			 Staffordshire 1,486,000 1,714,000 1,933,000 2,395,000 2,268,000 
			 Stockport 7,505,000 7,889,000 8,252,000 8,923,000 9,444,000 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 9,034,000 10,111,000 11,311,000 13,092,000 17,145,000 
			 Stoke on Trent 15,763,000 18,548,000 20,283,000 30,012,000 24,211,000 
			 Suffolk 6,515,000 8,143,000 9,460,000 11,927,000 11,336,000 
			 Sunderland 20,411,000 21,414,000 22,926,000 29,747,000 32,235,000 
			 Surrey 16,178,000 18,295,000 19,566,000 21,135,000 22,545,000 
			 Sutton 51,128,000 57,146,000 61,514,000 66,796,000 72,772,000 
			 Swindon 15,122,000 16,495,000 17,523,000 18,539,000 20,391,000 
			 Tameside 9,607,000 10,842,000 11,452,000 12,489,000 14,174,000 
			 Telford and Wrekin 18,671,000 24,714,000 25,904,000 25,659,000 30,300,000 
			 Thurrock 11,856,000 15,693,000 20,825,000 21,171,000 19,993,000 
			 Torbay 12,659,000 15,175,000 16,172,000 17,330,000 18,584,000 
			 Tower Hamlets 9,590,000 10,517,000 10,705,000 11,179,000 14,080,000 
			 Trafford 10,433,000 12,403,000 13,027,000 13,781,000 14,840,000 
			 Wakefield 20,150,000 23,196,000 25,335,000 25,619,000 26,683,000 
			 Walsall 16,109,000 19,555,000 19,095,000 20,982,000 23,447,000 
			 Waltham Forest 38,267,000 43,144,000 44,722,000 50,157,000 55,916,000 
			 Wandsworth 5,812,000 7,661,000 8,010,000 8,756,000 9,824,000 
			 Warrington 9,477,000 11,612,000 12,156,000 12,037,000 13,067,000 
			 Warwickshire 22,755,000 25,648,000 28,741,000 32,292,000 41,723,000 
			 West Berkshire 8,453,000 10,715,000 12,419,000 13,993,000 14,381,000 
			 West Sussex 10,015,000 9,957,000 11,091,000 12,288,000 13,122,000 
			 Westminster 23,914,000 26,423,000 36,831,000 43,949,000 49,586,000 
			 Wigan 55,427,000 63,654,000 71,970,000 75,794,000 79,344,000 
			 Wiltshire 18,567,000 18,710,000 28,862,000 31,827,000 33,774,000 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 12,581,000 15,244,000 16,280,000 17,467,000 17,638,000 
			 Wirral 21,328,000 23,425,000 26,412,000 27,615,000 27,874,000 
			 Wokingham 12,750,000 9,698,000 16,307,000 18,338,000 19,356,000 
			 Wolverhampton 32,784,000 37,086,000 41,167,000 43,380,000 46,760,000 
			 Worcestershire 15,259,000 16,863,000 18,707,000 20,432,000 22,261,000 
			 York 11,004,000 12,678,000 13,471,000 14,645,000 11,523,000 
			 (1) The information provided includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to primary and secondary schools identified as "notional SEN" and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools.(2) The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against "notional SEN" are only indicative of the amount that might be spent by schools on SEN and, from 2004-05 onwards "notional SEN" delegated to nursery schools was reported on Section 52 for the first time. In 2005-06, local authorities also budgeted for SEN transport expenditure but this is not included in the above table as figures not available prior to 2005-06.(3) Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds and may not sum due to rounding.(4) Data is submitted to the DfES by local authorities and is drawn from Section 52 Budget statements (tables 1 and 2) and is subject to change.

Student Debt

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the average level of debt with which a student enrolling on a three year course at a higher education institution in 2006 will graduate.

Bill Rammell: For those commencing courses after the introduction of variable fees in the 2006/07 academic year we expect average student debt of around £15,000. Debts arising from student loans are very different from those from commercial loan products. Repayments are linked to income and only calculated on earnings over £15,000. This means a borrower earning below this threshold does not have to make repayments. For example, someone earning the average graduate starting salary of £18,000 will repay £5.19 per week regardless of the amount borrowed. The Government subsidises the rate of interest on these loans to ensure that borrowers only repay in real terms what they borrowed, however long it takes them.

Student Loans

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures are in place to identify non-payment of loan repayments due to the Student Loans Company.

Bill Rammell: There are two types of student loans, the first of which, the mortgage-style loans scheme, ceased for new loans in 1998. A range of measures are in place for accounts which fall into arrears. Attempts are made to contact the borrower by letter and telephone to establish borrowers' circumstances, assign or re-assign them to the correct status and treatment, and to re-institute repayments where due. If appropriate, SLC will assign tracing and collection agents and, where necessary, take legal action.
	Income contingent loans, made since 1998, are collected through the tax system. The SLC works closely with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to identify borrowers to allow employers to make deductions, and HMRC to collect repayments through the self assessment process, when a borrower is earning over £15,000. As part of this, the SLC regularly contacts those borrowers who are not currently repaying to confirm their details and check their employment status.

Unfilled Teaching Posts

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching posts have remained unfilled in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The following table shows the number of full-time vacancies in local authority maintained schools in England in January of each year, and the vacancy rate.
	
		
			  Full-time vacancy rates( 1)  in local authority maintained schools in England, January of each year 
			  All vacancies 
			   Number  Rate 
			 1997 2,020 0.6 
			 1998 2,590 0.7 
			 1999 2,530 0.7 
			 2000 2,910 0.8 
			 2001 4,980 1.4 
			 2002 4,540 1.2 
			 2003 3,410 0.9 
			 2004 2,630 0.7 
			 2005 2,480 0.7 
			 2006 2,230 0.6 
			 (1) Advertised vacancies for full-time permanent appointments (or appointments of at least one term's duration). Includes vacancies being filled on a temporary basis of less than one term.   Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.   Source: Survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies, (618g).

Universities (Greater London)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students were enrolled on degree courses at universities in Greater London in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the table. Figures for 2005/06 will be available in January 2007.
	
		
			  First degree enrolments at London HE institutions, 2000/01 to 2004/05 
			  Academic year  Enrolments 
			 2000/01 167,675 
			 2001/02 172,875 
			 2002/03 178,960 
			 2003/04 180,485 
			 2004/05 186,175 
			  Note: Figures are on a HESA standard registration population basis and are rounded to the nearest 5.   Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Young Asylum Seekers

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to local authorities of caring for unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect this information centrally.
	The DfES provides funding towards meeting the costs of supporting unaccompanied asylum seeker care leavers, aged 18 and over. A total of £9 million was paid out in respect of the 2004-05 grant year, the first year of the grant. Claims for the 2005-06 grant year are still being submitted.
	The Home Office provides additional funding to local authorities over and above mainstream funding to support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), aged under 18. The claims submitted from local authorities to the Home Office for previous years have been:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2002-03 152.97 
			 2003-04 157.21 
			 2004-05 158.14 
			 2005-06 (1)136.66 
			 (1 )Claims are still being submitted for this year.

Hazardous Waste

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which copper and zinc compounds defined as hazardous in version 8 of the Health and Safety Executive's Approved Supply List are not currently defined as hazardous by the Environment Agency in its technical guidance WM2.

Ben Bradshaw: The Health and Safety Executive's Approved Supply List (ASL) does not define hazardous substances, but is a guide to the classification of hazardous substances.
	The Environment Agency's technical guidance, WM2, currently refers to ASL version 7, which was in force at the time of its publication. The Environment Agency intends to release a revised version of WM2 by 1 November this year.
	The following zinc and copper compounds are new entries in ASL version 8, that is, they were not included in previous versions of the ASL.
	trizinc bis(orthophosphate)
	zinc oxide
	a mixture of disodium copper II complex
	pentakis[3-(dimethylammonio)-propylsulfamoyl]-[(6-hydroxy-4,4,8,8-tetramethyl-4,8-diazoniaundecane-1,1 1-diyldisulfamoyl) di[hthalocyaninecopper(ll)]lheptalactate
	reaction product of copper and sodium salts
	sodium ((N-(3-trimethylammoniopropyl)sulfamoyl)methyl sulfonatophthalocyanhato)copper(ll)
	trisodium 2-{a[2-hydroxy-3-[4-chloro-6-[4-(2,3-dibro mopropionylamino)-2-sulfonatophenylamino]-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamino]-5-sulfonatophenylazo]-benzylidenehydrazino}-4-sulfonatobenzoate,copper complex
	trisodium(2-(a-(3-(4-chloro-6-(2-(2-(vinylsulfonyl) ethoxy)ethylamino)-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamino)-2-oxido-5-sulfonatophenylazo)benzylidenehydrazino)-4-sulfonatobenzoato)copper(ll)

Solar Panels

Andrew Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government has to put solar panels on Government property.

Ian Pearson: On 12 June the Prime Minister and the right hon. David Miliband (SoS, DEFRA) announced new sustainable operations targets for the Government Estate. Government Departments are mandated within the new targets to source at least 10 per cent. of electricity from renewables (such as wind, wave, tidal, solar thermal and photovoltaics (PV's)) by March 2008.
	The majority of Departments have already exceeded the renewable target for 2008. Departmental performance against renewable targets has been published in annual Sustainable Development in Government Reports. The last Report published by the Sustainable Development Commission, the independent watchdog, was in December 2005 and is available at: http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/watchdog.
	In addition, David Miliband recently announced an innovative scheme to boost the use of renewable energy which will receive a £10 million investment from the Government. The new venture, Partnership for Renewables (PfR), will partner local authorities, hospitals and other public sector bodies with private sector organisations to develop onsite renewable energy projects. The Government support will pave the way for PfR to catalyse the expansion of the public sector renewables market.

Terrorism

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on  (a) food security measures and  (b) research on priority threat agents against terrorist action in each year since 2000.

Barry Gardiner: It is not possible to disaggregate the Department's spend in this area from other 'business as usual' activities. In the past year, DEFRA has commissioned a report from Cranfield University about the resilience of the food chain, but the costs involved are commercially sensitive. It is not Government policy to publicise the detail of precautions against terrorism, but I can confirm that such work is being done.

China

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made since July 2006 to the government of China regarding alleged abuse of those who protest against the one child policy in China; what response she received; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: I have been asked to reply.
	While the UK has never questioned China's right or need to implement family planning policies, we remain concerned by reports of forced abortions and sterilisations and the treatment of those who have publicly highlighted these issues. We believe that China's family planning policies should be based on the principle of consent, and not coercion, as espoused by the International Conference on Population and Development. At the last round of the UK-China human rights dialogue in July, we raised the case of Chen Guangcheng, a lawyer who highlighted reports of enforced sterilisation and abortion in Linyi City, Shandong Province. We also included Chen Guangcheng on a list of cases passed to the Chinese authorities during the visit of Chinese Premier Wen in September. We have not received an official response from the Chinese government. We will continue to raise relevant cases and our concerns about reports of enforced sterilisation and abortion both in our bilateral contacts and with EU partners.

Croatia

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's support for the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

Geoff Hoon: The Government wholeheartedly support Croatia's accession to the European Union, once she has met the relevant standards. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reiterated this support during his meeting with the Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on 18 July.

European Union

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to her statement in Prospects for the EU in 2006 (Cm 6896), that reducing regulatory burdens was a key priority for the UK presidency, by how much the regulatory burden of EU legislation on UK business was reduced  (a) during the UK presidency and  (b) as a result of decisions made during the UK presidency; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The main objective of our presidency was to begin turning the commitments to better regulation made by key players, particularly the Commission, into concrete outcomes. In the main, we were successful and achievements included political agreement on the Chemicals Regulation (REACH) and a first reading deal with the Parliament on the Capital Requirements Directive, which were both based on significant impact assessment work.
	The impact assessment on the Air Quality Thematic Strategy resulted in significant improvements in the information that was available to inform decision making, enabling the Commission to decide between a range of options in the light of their costs and benefits. We have chosen an approach which will improve air quality significantly and will make a potential saving of over €10 billion per year compared to the original proposal.
	During the UK presidency the Commission announced its intention to withdraw 68 pending legislative proposals which did not reflect the principles of better regulation. The Commission also issued a Communication setting out ambitious plans to simplify existing legislation. This is a rolling programme with over 100 specific proposals, affecting 1,400 legal acts. It also identifies priority sectors in which we should be able to make rapid progress in tackling unnecessary regulation. The initial focus is on the automotive, waste and construction sectors. The Commission also published a Communication with ideas on simplifying the common agricultural policy.

European Union

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to her statement in Prospects for the EU in 2006 (Cm 6896), on better regulation, what progress has been made in reducing the regulatory burden on UK business over the past 12 months through better EU regulation; what progress has been made on the simplification of EU legislation; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: In June, the European Council called for targets to reduce administrative burdens on Europe's businesses in spring 2007. We expect the European Commission to announce a target for burden reduction in the spring. Vice-President Verheugen, who has responsibility for Enterprise and Industry, has expressed a strong desire for this burden reduction target to be set at 25 per cent.
	In October 2005, the Commission announced an ambitious rolling simplification programme listing 220 basic legislative acts to be reviewed over the next three years. We want to see faster progress in delivering against this programme and the UK is working with other member states and EU institutions to agree a process to fast-track simplification proposals. We are also putting forward proposals for further simplification.

Muslims of Europe Conference

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which individuals received her Department's funding in respect of their attendance at the Muslims of Europe Conference; and how much each person received.

Kim Howells: Ministers approved Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) funding for the Muslims of Europe Conference, which was organised by a steering group of European Muslims. The steering group invited a wide range of senior Muslim scholars and civil society representatives. A full participant list is available on the following website: www.muslimsofeurope.com.
	FCO support for the conference included payment of flight, food and accommodation costs for all participants.

North Korea

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation in respect of the testing of a nuclear device by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 9 October.

Ian McCartney: I have been asked to reply.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not been in discussions with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) in respect of North Korea's testing of a nuclear device. However, officials are in close touch with the CTBTO. We support the statements issued on 9 October by the chair of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission and by the executive secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO condemning the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) announcement that it had conducted a nuclear test and calling on the DPRK to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty without further delay. The full text of both statements can be found on the CTBTO website at: www.ctbto.org.

Overseas Missions

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the practice of Heads of UK Mission's overseas to read letters or emails addressed to them by hon. Members; whether it is the practice for  (a) the Head of Mission and  (b) Deputy Head of Mission to sign-off any replies to hon. Members; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 11 October 2006
	The handling of incoming correspondence at our overseas missions will vary from post to post. There are no specific instructions that heads of posts or their deputies should read and personally answer all correspondence from hon. Members.
	Where a reply is called for, heads of mission or their deputies will in many cases reply to correspondence. It is sometimes more appropriate for the official dealing with a particular subject to respond, or for the incoming correspondence to be forwarded to the relevant directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for answer.

UN Peacebuilding Commission

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the operation of the UN Peacebuilding Commission.

Kim Howells: The UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) has yet to begin its substantive work. Discussions so far have focused on administrative and procedural issues. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of International Development have been working hard in New York, Burundi, Sierra Leone and within the EU to ensure the PBC is flexible, focused on priority peacebuilding issues and avoids the bureaucracy and politicisation that limits the effectiveness of some UN bodies. The provisional rules of procedure agreed by the PBC's Organisational Committee in June give the Commission sufficient flexibility to achieve the goals set out for it in the World Summit. However, a real assessment of its workings can only be made after substantive discussions on the first country cases, Burundi and Sierra Leone, have taken place on 12 and 13 October.

United States

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role was played by the British Embassy in Washington in promoting legislation before the United States Congress to limit greenhouse gas emissions; and what direct contact took place with members of the United States House of Representatives and Senate and their staff.

Ian McCartney: I have been asked to reply.
	Officials from our Embassy in Washington have been in regular contact with members of both houses of Congress and their staff to discuss the UK experience of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, an issue that remains under active consideration in the US.

Alcohol-related Disease

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her most recent estimate is of the cost of alcohol-related diseases to the National Health Service.

Caroline Flint: The interim analytical report conducted by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit published on 19 September 2003 to inform the alcohol harm reduction strategy published in 2004; put the cost to the national health service of alcohol related harm at between £1.4 billion and £1.7 billion.

Breast Cancer

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2006,  Official Report, column 655W, on breast cancer screening, what percentage of women eligible received screening in each year.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is in the table:
	
		
			   Breast screening programme: coverage (percentage)( 1) 
			   Guildford and Waverley( 2)  Surrey( 3)  England 
			 1997-98 n/a 64.0 66.4 
			 1998-99 n/a 68.7 67.6 
			 1999-00 n/a 69.0 69.3 
			 2000-01 n/a 68.3 70.2 
			 2001-02 n/a 66.3 69.8 
			 2002-03 73.8 75.3 75.3 
			 2003-04 73.4 75.6 74.9 
			 2004-05 79.0 77.4 75.5 
			 (1) The coverage of the screening programme is the proportion of women resident who have had a test with a recorded result at least once in the previous three years.  (2) Data was not available at primary care trust level until 2002-03.  (3) East Surrey Health Authority and West Surrey Health Authority from 1997-98 to 2001-02, Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority from 2002-03 to 2004-05   Source:  Statistical bulletin - breast screening programme, England: 1997-98 to 2004-05

Breastfeeding

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to promote breastfeeding; what assessment she has made of the potential effects of legislation to protect the right of a mother to breastfeed in a public place; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Government are committed to the promotion of breastfeeding as the best form of nutrition for infants. The Government continue to support breastfeeding through the National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (NBAW), a public health campaign held each year. NBAW 2007 will be held from 13-19 May 2007. In November this year, we will be introducing Healthy Start across Great Britain. Healthy Start will replace the Welfare Food Scheme and will give mothers on qualifying benefits incentives to breastfeed as they can use vouchers on milk, fruit and vegetables rather than infant formula.
	Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for local breastfeeding support and the recent postnatal care guidance from National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommends that PCTs should use UNICEF's Baby Friendly Initiative as a minimum standard.
	Through the National Infant Feeding Survey 2005, the Department is currently seeking women's views on breastfeeding in public places and will consider findings from the survey, expected in late spring 2007.

Chlamydia Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to use postal screening in the national chlamydia screening programme.

Caroline Flint: There are a number of local programmes using postal kits within the national Chlamydia screening programme (NCSP). The kits have been developed so that they can be picked up from various venues. Local programme areas are encouraged to evaluate the success of this approach so that best practice can be shared within the programme.
	This is only one of the options available to young people within the NCSP. Other successful screening venues includes educational institutions, community contraceptive services, youth clinics, military settings, prisons and general practice.

Connecting for Health Contracts

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the definition is under the terms of the Connecting for Health contracts to local service providers of a  (a) Severity 1 Service Failure and  (b) Severity 2 Service Failure; and how many of each there were in each local service provider area in (i) February 2006, (ii) March 2006 and (iii) April 2006.

Caroline Flint: Definitions of service failure severity levels are common to all local service provider (LSP) contracts.
	A Severity 1 service failure is a failure which, in the reasonable opinion of NHS Connecting for Health, the contractor, or a National Health Service system/service user has the potential to:
	have a significant adverse impact on the provision of the service to a large number of users; or
	have a significant adverse impact on the delivery of patient care to a large number of patients; or
	cause significant financial loss and/or disruption to NHS Connecting for Health, or the NHS; or
	result in any material loss or corruption of health data, or in the provision of incorrect data to an end user.
	A Severity 2 service failure is a failure which, in the reasonable opinion of NHS Connecting for Health, the contractor, or a national health service system/service user has the potential to have a significant adverse impact on the provision of the service to a small or moderate number of service users; or
	have a moderate adverse impact on the delivery of patient care to a significant number of service users; or
	have a significant adverse impact on the delivery of patient care to a small or moderate number of patients; or
	have a moderate adverse impact on the delivery of patient care to a high number of patients; or
	cause a financial loss and/or disruption to NHS Connecting for Health, or the NHS which is more than trivial but less severe than the significant financial loss described in the definition of a Severity 1 service failure.
	Details of severity 1 and 2 failures in each local service provider area for February to April 2006 are in the following table.
	
		
			   February  March  April 
			  LSP area  Severity 1  Severity 2  Severity 1  Severity 2  Severity 1  Severity 2 
			 Southern 4 8 8 11 7 32 
			 Eastern 8 15 5 6 0 12 
			 North East 9 14 2 3 0 8 
			 London 1 4 0 4 1 0 
			 North West and West Midlands 5 19 0 21 3 32 
		
	
	The definitions relate to the potential for adverse incidents. In practice, there is no evidence that these or other service failures have had any material impact on the quality of patient care.
	The service availability levels required for national programme for information technology (NPfTT) systems are exceptionally demanding compared with those which preceded the programme. Performance against these standards typically exceeds contracted levels. The overall data spine and LSP service availability delivered in 2005 and to date in 2006 compared to contracted service levels is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Spine services 
			  Period  Total targeted availability in user minutes (million)  Total actual availability delivered in user minutes (million)  Percentage variance against target 
			 2005 Q1 6,250 6,250 0 
			 2005 Q2 24,623 24,615 -0.03 
			 2005 Q3 62,195 62,367 +0.28 
			 2005 Q4 151,538 151,880 +0.23 
			 2006 Q1 297,455 298,198 +0.25 
			  Note: The contracted requirement was for the system to be available to users 99.8 per cent of the time up to March 2005, and 99.9 per cent of the time from April 2005 
		
	
	
		
			  LSP services 
			  Period  Total targeted availability in user minutes (million)  Total actual availability delivered in user minutes (million)  Percentage variance against target 
			 2005 Q1 208 216 +3.62 
			 2005 Q2 1,425 1,464 +2.73 
			 2005 Q3 2,238 2,277 +1.76 
			 2005 Q4 3,296 3,350 +1.65 
			 2006 Q1 5,629 5,845 +3.84 
		
	
	Details of service availability for live services, measured against contracted target availability, is routinely published, and updated weekly, on the NHS Connecting for Health website at:
	www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/delivery/servicemanagement/statistics/operational

Dentistry

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has received representations from trainee dentists or organisations acting on their behalf regarding a failure to pay salaries to trainees; whether funding for trainee dentists is provided by strategic health authorities; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: One of our objectives in delegating the commissioning of primary care dental services to primary care trusts was to improve the quality of services through the enhancement of vocational training.
	With the abolition of the dental assistant status, all dentists graduating from dental schools in the United Kingdom who wish to practise in the national health service have to undertake one year's vocational training. In order to ensure that funds for payments to trainers and the vocational dental practitioners were appropriately distributed for 2006-07, we delayed their allocation to strategic health authorities (SHAs) until we had information on the placement of students graduating in July. During the period from April to July, the Department had a number of inquiries from SHAs and individual dental practices about these new arrangements which have now been resolved.

Dentistry

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists providing NHS treatment are available in  (a) Edmonton constituency,  (b) the London Borough of Enfield and (c) Greater London; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The number of NHS dental performers on open contracts in the specified strategic health authority (SHA) and primary care trust (PCT) as at 30 June 2006 is provided in the following table. Information is collected by primary care trust and strategic health authority area and is provided in this format.
	
		
			   Number 
			 London SHA 3,504 
			  of which:  
			 Enfield PCT 167 
			  Notes: 1. The new NHS dental contract was introduced on 1 April 2006. Data from this date are not comparable with numbers provided under the old contractual arrangements.  2. A performer is defined as a dentist who has been set up on the dental practice division (DPD) Payments online (POL) system by the PCT to work under an open contract as at 30 June 2006. Data provided are a count of the individuals listed as performers on open contracts.  3. Under the new contract arrangements PCTs agree a specified annual level of NHS dental treatment, known as units of dental activity (UDAs).  4. In some cases an NHS dentist may appear on a PCT list but not perform any NHS work in that period.  5. Data consists of performers in general dental services (GDS), personal dental services (PDS) and trust-led dental services.  6. Data as per report run by the DPD of the NHS BSA on 31 August 2006.  7. Figures for the numbers of dentists at specified dates may vary depending on the date the figures are compiled. This is because the NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) may be notified of joiners or leavers up to several months, or more, after the move has taken place.   Sources: The Information Centre for health and social care NHS Business Services Authority (BSA).

Drugs Rehabilitation

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was allocated for drug rehabilitation centres and courses in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07 in (i) England and (ii) the region of Merseyside; and what the estimate is for 2007-08.

Caroline Flint: We are unable to determine specific allocated funding for drug rehabilitation centres and courses. The pooled drug treatment budget (PTB), is allocated to drug action teams (DATs) throughout the country, who use the funding to commission all forms of drug treatment services to best meet local need. The PTB for 2005-06 and 2006-07 is shown in table 1, in addition to estimated local mainstream funding. The allocation in these years for DATs within Cheshire and Merseyside strategic health authority (SHA) is shown in table 2. We are unable to estimate drug treatment allocations for 2007-08.
	
		
			  Table 1:Yearly funding 
			  £ million 
			   PTB  Local mainstream funding  Total 
			 2005-06 300 208 508 
			 2006-07 385 212 597 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2:Cheshire and Merseyside SHA 
			   £ million 
			 2005-06 17,230 
			 2006-07 22.195

Emergency Readmissions

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 13 September 2006,  Official Report, column 2275W, on emergency readmissions, when she plans to publish the conclusions from the National Centre for Health Outcomes Development on emergency readmissions.

Andy Burnham: The National Centre for Health Outcomes Development (NCHOD) intend to report the results of their research on emergency readmissions to the Department in the first half of next year. Ministers will consider their advice and take any decisions on the publication of NCHOD's conclusions at the appropriate time.

Eye Services

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she has taken in 2006 to improve community and hospital eye services.

Rosie Winterton: The current review of general ophthalmic services is looking at ways of supporting the national health service (NHS) in providing more integrated services across primary and secondary care and providing greater choice for patients.
	We are currently piloting model care pathways as developed by the Eye Care Services Steering Group for glaucoma, age related macular degeneration and low vision. Learning from the pilots and their developing evidence base will be shared with the NHS to support wider implementation.
	From December 2008, no patient will have to wait longer than 18 weeks from GP referral to the start of hospital treatment. All consultant-led eye services will fall within this 18 week patient pathway.

Eye Services

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she has taken to promote eye health awareness.

Rosie Winterton: Free sight tests are available under the national health service (NHS) to large parts of the population including children, those aged 16 to 18 in full-time education, people on benefits, those people at particular risk of developing eye disease, and people who are registered blind or partially sighted or who have a complex spectacle prescription. In addition in April 1999 we extended free sight tests to all people aged 60 and over. Sight tests allow the opportunity to review all aspects of eye health, including investigations for signs of disease. Those at risk of specific eye disease (e.g. diabetic retinopathy) may be asked to attend regular screening.
	Information about the extensive arrangements for providing help with NHS optical services and other health costs are publicised in leaflet HC11 "Are you entitled to help with health costs?" Posters are also available for display in optical practices and hospital out-patient departments.

Fit for the Future Review

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions her Department has had with the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority in relation to its Fit for the Future review; and whether the  (a) review and  (b) consultation requires departmental approval.

Caroline Flint: NHS south east coast, the successor body to Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority, keeps Ministers and officials informed about its "Creating an NHS fit for the future" programme and will continue to do so as the project progresses.
	The review is a matter for the local NHS. The Department will only become involved if asked to do so by the relevant overview and scrutiny committee.

FRANK Campaign

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what total expenditure on the FRANK drug awareness campaign has been in each year since its start.

Caroline Flint: The FRANK campaign was launched in May 2003, to provide young people and their families with information and advice about drugs. The total expenditure since its launch is shown in the table.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 4.25 
			 2004-05 4.30 
			 2005-06 6.17 
		
	
	The figures comprise contributions from the Department and the Home Office. The Department for Education and Skills has also contributed financially from the current year, 2006-07.

Homeopathy

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the amount that the NHS spent in 2005-06 on homeopathy;
	(2)  what evidence on  (a) efficacy and  (b) cost-effectiveness has been collected to support the purchase of homeopathy services by the NHS;
	(3)  what the Government's policy is on the funding of homeopathic treatments by the NHS.

Caroline Flint: Provision of complementary and alternative therapies on the national health service is a matter for primary care trusts and local NHS service providers. The Government consider that decision making on individual clinical interventions (whether these are conventional, complementary or alternative) is for local determination. The cost-effectiveness, efficacy and safety of treatments are all considered when these decisions are being made. There are no centrally held records of NHS referrals for homeopathic treatment.

Homeopathy

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines the Government has given to  (a) the NHS and  (b) NHS bodies regarding homeopathy.

Caroline Flint: In 2000, the Department produced an information pack for both primary care groups and primary care clinicians to provide a basic source of reference on complementary medicine, including homeopathy, and to support individual clinical judgement. The Department has also commissioned His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales' Foundation for Integrated Health to produce an information guide for patients on complementary and alternative medicines and therapies, which includes homoeopathy. This is now available to the NHSand is called 'Complementary Healthcare—A Guide for Patients'.

Human Assets Ltd

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment was made of the previous work carried out in the health sector by Human Assets Ltd prior to the allocation of the contract to select primary care trust members and chairs;
	(2)  how many of the people appointed as  (a) chairs and  (b) members of primary care trust boards live in the 20 per cent. most deprived wards; and what proportion of members so far appointed this represents;
	(3)  what action has been taken to encourage applications for appointment to the boards of primary care trusts from those who live in health deprived areas;
	(4)  how many applications were received for places on the board of Warrington primary care trust from each constituency in Warrington; and what percentage of applicants have been appointed in each case;
	(5)  how many applications for appointment to the board of Warrington primary care trust were received from people resident in  (a) Orford,  (b) Poplars and Hulme,  (c) Bewsey,  (d) Poulton North and Fairfield and  (e) Howley wards; and what steps were taken to encourage applicants from these areas.

Rosie Winterton: The appointment of Chairs and non-executive members of primary care trusts is the responsibility of the Appointments Commission. I have asked the Commission's Chair, Sir William Wells, to respond to the hon. Member's questions and for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library.

Midwives

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwifery posts have been  (a) withdrawn and  (b) not filled in 2006.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of midwifery posts withdrawn is not collected centrally.
	The March 2006 national health service vacancy survey showed there were 185 midwifery posts (full time equivalents) which trusts were actively trying to fill which had lasted for three months or more.

National Confidential Inquiries

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of her Department's arm's length bodies has responsibility for administering the national confidential enquiries.

Andy Burnham: The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has responsibility for managing the contracts of the three confidential enquiries: the National Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health, National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death and National Confidential Inquiry into Suicides and Homicides by People with a Mental Illness. This followed the review of arms lengths bodies in 2005, where responsibility for the three national confidential enquiries moved from National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to the NPSA.

Neurology and MS Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the total NHS budget is spent on  (a) neurology and  (b) multiple sclerosis services.

Andy Burnham: The Department's resource accounts have, since 2002-03, included details of expenditure by programme budget categories, among which is "Neurological System Disorders" of all kinds. These accounts are published and HC668, covering 2004-05, was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 14 November 2005. Copies are available in the Library.

Neurology and MS Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners with a specialist interest in neurology are currently employed in the NHS, broken down by primary care trust; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: There are now 1,749 general practitioners with a special interests (GPwSIs) in the national health service, meeting the NHS Plan commitment to provide 1,000 by 2004, a year early; but information on the number of GPwSI in neurology is not collected centrally.

Patient and Public Involvement Forums

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been given to patient and public involvement forums in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: Funding for patient and public involvement forums is delivered through grant in aid to the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health. The Commission has received the following funding over the last three years:
	
		
			  (£ million) 
			 2006-07 28 
			 2005-06 31.681 
			 2004-05 33.313

Patient Harm Hotline

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will bring forward proposals to establish a confidential telephone line for NHS staff to report incidents involving  (a) actual and  (b) potential harm to patients.

Andy Burnham: There are no proposals to establish a confidential telephone line for national health service staff to report incidents involving actual and potential harm to patients. However, all NHS staff are able to report patient safety incidents to their local organisation on a confidential basis. These reports are then sent on to the National Patient Safety Agency's National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) where they are held on an anonymous basis. In addition, the National Patient Safety Agency has an electronic reporting form or eForm which allows NHS staff to report patient safety incidents, including near misses, to the NRLS anonymously.

Primary Care Trusts Chief Executives

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) salaries and  (b) salary scales are of the chief executives of each of the 14 primary care trusts in the South West.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not collect information on the salaries of individual primary care trust (PCT) chief executives. However, the pay of PCT chief executives is a matter of public record and published in PCTs' annual accounts.
	On 26 July 2006, the Department published a new national pay framework for very senior managers in the NHS, which includes PCT chief executives. This has been placed in the Library and is available at www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4137432&chk=IRruNI
	This new pay framework introduces spot rate salaries for the chief executive role (i.e. a fixed basic 'rate for the job' with no annual increments) which, in the 14 primary care trusts in the South West, will be:
	
		
			  PCTS  PCT band  Spot rates (October 2006-07 rates)  Spot rates (November 2006-07 Rates) 
			 South West strategic health authority Q39
			 Bournemouth and Poole Teaching 3 119,896 12-1,320 
			 Dorset 3 119,896 121,320 
			 Somerset 4 130,322 131,870 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 4 130,322 131,870 
			 Devon 4 130,322 131,870 
			 Plymouth Teaching 2 109,470 110,771 
			 Torbay Care Trust 2 109,470 110,771 
			 Bristol Teaching 3 119,896 121,320 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 2 109,470 110,771 
			 Gloucestershire 4 130,322 131,870 
			 North Somerset 2 109,470 110,771 
			 South Gloucestershire 2 109,470 110,771 
			 Swindon 2 109,470 110,771 
			 Wiltshire 3 119,896 121,320 
			  Note:The two sets of rates reflect the staged pay award for 2006-07 announced by Secretary of State on 30 March 2006.

Radiotherapy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2006, to the hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb),  Official Report, columns 2068-69W, when she began developing a radiotherapy episodes statistics system; when she expects the development of this system to be completed; what data will be recorded as part of this system; whether this data will be made available publicly; and whether she expects the data this system collects to be able to be used to measure waiting times for radiotherapy.

Rosie Winterton: A pilot study was conducted in 2004 to test the feasibility of collecting radiotherapy episode statistics (RES) and the development of the RES system began from then. The RES project collects information on patient treatment and usage of radiotherapy machines from radiotherapy centres, and links this with hospital records data extracted from the national hospital episode statistics (HES) database, using information like hospital length of stay, diagnosis and procedures performed.
	The linked patient record from the RES system enables us for the first time to track the patient pathway for patients who are admitted for hospital care and episodes of radiotherapy treatment. It will allow us to see different patient care patterns, and develop and share national comparative information that has not been available before.
	The RES information is collected voluntarily and we are currently standardising the content and definitions of the data collected, so that we can move to improved collection of information in spring 2007. Modifications to the software are also being introduced for the end of 2007. Currently the RES system is at a relatively early stage of development and it is not possible say at this stage say when results from the project will be available. At this time the RES system is unable to accurately measure waiting times for radiotherapy, but as the quality and completeness of information improves, it should be able to measure waiting times.

Tuberculosis

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish the tuberculosis research strategy.

Caroline Flint: The Department has no plans to do so at present.
	The UK Clinical Research Collaboration, which was set up in April 2004, has established a Strategic Planning Group on Microbiology and Infectious Disease, including tuberculosis. The group met for the first time in January 2006 and is due to report by spring 2007. We will consider what further steps should be taken in the light of that report.

Tuberculosis

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence programme to identify ineffective treatments being used by the NHS will examine the Mantoux skin test for tuberculosis;
	(2)  if she will issue a reminder to NHS trusts that National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance recommends the use of interferon gamma tests for diagnosis of tuberculosis infection in immunocompromised patients;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of compliance with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines on diagnosis of tuberculosis;
	(4)  if she will issue guidance to the NHS on the use of interferon gamma tests to diagnose latent tuberculosis in HIV/AIDS patients;
	(5)  what guidance and support she has offered to NHS trusts on implementation of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the reasons for the time taken to introduce interferon gamma tests for tuberculosis; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of such an introduction on  (a) NHS finances and  (b) patient safety;
	(2)  what steps have been taken by her Department in response to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's Guideline Development Group's recommendations for a study to assess whether interferon gamma tests are more effective and acceptable than tuberculin skin tests; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department has been developing a toolkit to help the national health service to implement the key points of the chief medical officer's tuberculosis (TB) action plan through effective commissioning and delivery of services. The toolkit will recommend that TB services should always follow the NICE clinical guidelines when treating patients including those with HIV or those who are otherwise immunocompromised. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines contain clear recommendations on the appropriate use of Mantoux tests and interferon gamma tests. Economic modelling was undertaken with various strategies from no action to a two-step strategy with either tuberculin skin tests (TST, which cover both Heaf and Mantoux tests) followed by interferon gamma testing, or serial interferon gamma tests. Of these options, the model provided most support, on grounds of cost-effectiveness, for a two-step approach with an initial TST, followed by an interferon gamma test to confirm positivity. The guideline development group members also supported this because of clinical utility and feasibility.
	Based on this, the Health Protection Agency is developing more detailed practical guidance about the use of gamma interferon tests. It is expected that this guidance will be available to the NHS before the end of 2006.
	The NICE guideline was published in February 2006 and it is too early to assess how widely its recommendations are being implemented. NICE plans to evaluate its implementation tools, including that for TB, shortly.

Unsafe Food

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) illnesses,  (b) hospitalisations and  (c) deaths have been caused in England by unsafe food in each year since 2000.

Caroline Flint: The estimated number of  (a) illnesses,  (b) hospitalisations and  (c) deaths in England and Wales due to indigenous foodborne disease from 2000 to 2005 are given in the following table.
	
		
			   Total cases  Hospitalisations  Deaths 
			 2000 1,338,000 20,800 480 
			 2001 (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 2002 (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 2003 843,000 17,200 440 
			 2004 835,000 17,400 570 
			 2005 765,000 17,300 470 
			 (1 )Estimates for 2001 and 2002 are not available. Notes:Estimates for England only are not available.Estimates have been rounded to the nearest 1,000 for total cases, 100 for hospitalisations and 10 for deaths.Figures were estimated by the Health Protection Agency using the methodology described in Adak G K, Long S M, O'Brien SJ. Gut 2002, 51;832-841. This methodology uses available surveillance data, special survey data, and hospital episode statistics to estimate the burden of foodborne disease in England and Wales.

Waiting Times

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting time for a bone marrow transplant is in each NHS trust in England.

Caroline Flint: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for managing blood supplies in England and north Wales as well as running the British bone marrow register (BBMR). This is one of three registers in the United Kingdom. The National Blood Service which is an operating division of NHSBT recruits blood donors from the general public and potential bone marrow donors are recruited from the active blood donor populations.
	Data are not collected on waiting times for bone marrow transplants. This is due to the way the bone marrow registers operate. The BBMR receives around 30 worldwide search requests per day (which equates to about 3,000 a year). However, using the search requests it is difficult to quantify how many people actually require a transplant since it is not known if these searches are for people awaiting a transplant or searches for patients who have no immediate need for a transplant, but may do should their condition deteriorate.
	However, for those patients who do receive a bone marrow transplant from a BBMR donor the average waiting time from the search to receipt of the bone marrow is 133 days. This delay is mainly due to the health of the patient and the transplant centre timetable.

Waiting Times

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the process is for bone marrow transplants in England; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: There are currently three bone marrow registries in the United Kingdom and these are linked to an international register bone marrow donors worldwide (BMDW). BMDW is an internet-based database which is available to transplant centres to assess the potential number of donors and on which registry they are found. A search for a suitable tissue- match will take place across the bone marrow registries.
	Once a suitable donor has been found (this involves tissue typing a number of potential donors to ensure as a good a match as possible), either the donor will be asked to attend an apheresis clinic for approximately a week, where they will receive injections (three injections are given at the donor's home prior to the final one at the apheresis clinic in an National Blood Service centre) to boost stem cells, prior to a stem cell donation. Alternatively the donor will be invited to attend a British bone marrow register nominated hospital where the bone marrow will be collected under anaesthetic.
	After the stem cells have been donated, they are given to the patient in the form of a stem cell infusion, in a similar way to which a blood transfusion is given. The stem cells migrate to the bone marrow where they form a new immune system.

Waiting Times

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people resident in  (a) England and  (b) Wales had been waiting more than six months for an NHS in-patient operation in an English hospital at the end of (i) July and (ii) August 2006.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of patients waiting over 26 weeks for inpatient admission 
			   Jul 2006  Aug 2006 
			 Provider based, ie patients waiting in English NHS Trusts 900 827 
			 —of which, patients from Welsh commissioners 876 739 
			 Commissioner based. ie patients for whom English commissioners are responsible 46 115 
			 —of which, patients waiting at Welsh NHS Trusts 16 19 
			  Source:  Monthly monitoring return

Cycling Offences

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place in the principal cities of England and Wales in each of the last three years of cyclists for failing to display, during hours of darkness,  (a) front lights,  (b) rear lights and  (c) front or back lights.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is provided in the following table. It is not possible to identify on the basis of principal cities for England and Wales as the data held centrally are not collected at that level of detail.
	From the table, it is also not possible to separate those who were prosecuted for failing to display pedal cycle lighting from those who were prosecuted for reflector offences. Of those who were prosecuted for failing to display pedal cycle lighting we cannot further separate those who were prosecuted for  (a) front lights,  (b) rear lights and  (c) front or back lights.
	Court proceedings data for 2005 will be available in mid November 2006.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, for offences relating to pedal cycle lighting offences( 1)  broken down by police force area in England and Wales, 2002-04( 2, 3) 
			  Force  2002  2003  2004 
			 Avon and Somerset 2 1 1 
			 Bedfordshire 1 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 1 0 0 
			 Cheshire 7 0 3 
			 City of London 0 0 1 
			 Cleveland 7 1 2 
			 Cumbria 14 12 43 
			 Devon and Cornwall 4 1 1 
			 Dorset 3 0 2 
			 Durham 3 1 0 
			 Essex 2 0 1 
			 Gloucestershire 0 0 1 
			 Greater Manchester 13 21 7 
			 Hampshire 21 14 8 
			 Humberside 23 22 9 
			 Kent 0 1 0 
			 Lancashire 5 5 3 
			 Lincolnshire 5 1 1 
			 Merseyside 4 2 5 
			 Metropolitan Police 0 1 4 
			 Norfolk 3 1 8 
			 North Yorkshire 9 78 8 
			 Northumbria 25 29 34 
			 Nottinghamshire 2 1 0 
			 South Yorkshire 1 1 0 
			 Staffordshire 2 2 0 
			 Suffolk 4 1 5 
			 Surrey 1 0 0 
			 Sussex 0 1 0 
			 Thames Valley 0 1 2 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 6 
			 West Mercia 7 5 8 
			 West Midlands 1 2 2 
			 Wiltshire 3 2 1 
			 Dyfed-Powys 4 1 2 
			 Gwent 2 2 0 
			 North Wales 0 1 1 
			 South Wales 1 2 6 
			 Total 180 213 175 
			 (1) Statute is: Road Traffic Act 1988 sec. 81(2). Road Vehicle Lighting Regs1989. Offence Description is: Pedal cycle lighting and reflector offences (RVL Regs 1984). Offences in respect of pedal cycles.  (2) These data are provided on the principal offence basis.  (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  RDS Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Cycling Offences

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been of cyclists for riding on pavements in the last three years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The number of cyclists prosecuted at magistrates court, for offences relating to cyclists riding on pavements in England and Wales, 2002 to 2004 can be found in the following table.
	Data for 2005 will be available in mid November 2006.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, for riding a pedal cycle on a footpath( 1)  in England and Wales, 2002 to 2004( 2) 
			   Proceeded against 
			 2002 94 
			 2003 95 
			 2004 118 
			 (1) Offence under the Highway Act 1835 section 32.  (2) These data are provided on the principal offence basis.   Note:  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  RDS Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Departmental Estate

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what offices are  (a) owned and  (b) rented by his Department in Greater London; and which of those are not currently occupied by departmental staff.

John Reid: Excluding offices that cannot be disclosed for security reasons my Department for itself or through its Agencies, sponsored non-departmental public bodies and the national probation service occupies owned office accommodation at the following addresses in the Greater London area:
	Moat House, Moat Place, 117/131 Stockwell Road, London SW9 9TN
	191 a Askew Road, London W12 9AX
	Camden House, 199 Arlington Rd, London NW1 7HA
	4 Beckenham Road, Beckenham BR3 4LR
	6 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4LR
	2 and four Birbeck Road, Acton, London W3 6BE
	Telfer House, Church Road, Highgate, London N6 4QJ
	440 High Road, Willesden, London NW10 2DW
	6 Church Hill, Orpington, Kent BR16 OHE
	Martin Harknett House, 27 High Path, London SW19 2JL
	Ashley House, two Monck Street, London SW1P 2BQ
	Abell House, John Islip Street, London SW1P 4LH
	Cleland House, Page Street, London SW1P 4LN
	The following owned offices are not currently occupied by Home Office or other staff:
	 Sublet
	6-8 Alexander Grove, London N12 6HT
	 Vacant for disposal
	123 Grove Park Road, London SE5 8LD
	111 Chertsey Crescent, New Addington, Surrey CRO ODH
	My Department also occupies in the same way the following rented offices which include offices or parts of premises held from other Government Departments on informal agreements:
	Hope House, 39 Greenwich High Road, London SE10 8LW
	34/36 Englefield Road, London N1 4EZ
	377-383 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9RD
	1-5 Dorset Close, London NW1 SAN
	71 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 2BN
	Autophone House, 73 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 2BN
	Harpenden House, 248-250 Norwood Road, London SE27 9AZ
	143 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3LE
	1 Reed House, 2-4 Rectory Road, London N16 7QS
	Ground and Fourth Floors, Riverside House, Beresford Street, London SE18 6DH
	401 St Johns Street, London EC1V 4QE
	208 Lewisham High Street, London SE13 5JH
	79 East Hill, London SW18 2QE
	50 Mornington Grove, London E3 4NS
	Inner London Crown Court, 21 Harper Road, London SE1 0YY
	Camberwell Green Magistrates Court, 2 Kimpton Road London SE5 7UW
	South Western Magistrates Court, 124 Latchmere Road, London SW11 2JT
	217 Balham High Road, London SW17 7BP
	Central Criminal Court, The Old Bailey, London EC4M 7EM
	Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, 53 Holloway Road, London N7 8JD
	Horseferry Magistrates Court, 75 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3DX
	Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court, Broad Sanctury, London SW1P 3BB
	Units four & five Mitre House, 223/227 Great Dover Street, London SE1 UP
	175/177 Seymour Place, London W1H 4PL
	Southwark Crown Court, one English Grounds, London SE1 2HY
	Woolwich Crown Court, two Belmarsh Road, London SE28 OEY
	370 Albany Road, London SE5 OAJ
	Bow Street Magistrates Court, Bow Street, London WC2E 7AS
	Greenwich Magistrates Court, 7/9 Blackheath Road, London SE10 8PE
	Tower Bridge Magistrates Court, 211 Tooley Street, London SE1 2JY
	Woolwich Magistrates Court, Market Street, Woolwich, London SE18 6QR
	Marylebone Magistrates Court, 179/181 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5QJ
	City Of London Magistrates Court, Queen Victoria Street, London EC4N 4XY
	Lancaster House, Leeland Road, Baling, London W13 9HH
	Leeland House, Leeland Road, London W13 9AH
	The Old Court House, Windmill Hill, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 6SA
	Feltham Magistrates Court, Hanworth Road, Feltham TW13 5AF
	Harrow Crown Court, Hailsham Drive, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 4TU
	Rosslyn Crescent, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 2SR
	Allied House, three Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware HAS 5LG
	Banklabs House, 41 a Cross Lances Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW32AD
	Isleworth Grown Court, 36 Ridgeway Road, Isleworth TW7 5LP
	Enfield Magistrates Court, 71 Lordship Lane, London, N17 6RS
	90 Lansdowne Road, London N17 9XX
	1st & 2nd Floor, Kings House, The Green, Southall, Middlesex UB2 4QQ
	Uxbridge Magistrates Court, Harefield Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1PQ
	402-408 High Road, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 6AL
	Wood Green Crown Court, Lordship Lane, London N22 5LF
	Blackfriars Crown Court, 1-15 Pocock Street, London SE1 OBT
	Brent Magistrates Court, 448 High Road, London NW10 2DZ
	Hendon Magistrates Court, 19 The Hyde, Hendon, London NW9 6LE
	Haringey Magistrates Court, Bishops Road, Highgate, London N6 4HS
	Harrow Magistrates Court, Rosslyn Crescent, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 2SD
	Acton Magistrates Court, Winchester Street, London W3 SPA
	Ealing Magistrates Court, Green Man Lane, Ealing W13 OSB
	West London Magistrates Court, 181 Talgarth Road, London W6 8DN
	15 Belton Road, London E7 9PF
	Oakland Court, 277-289 High Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1QQ
	Olympic House, 28-42 Clements Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1BA
	Second Floor, Olympic House, 28-42 Clements Road, Ilford Essex IG1 1BA
	Third Floor, Olympic House, 28-42 Clements Road, Ilford Essex IG1 1BA
	1(st) Floor Regarth Chambers Regarth Avenue, Romford, Essex RM1 1TJ
	Victoria Road, 29-33 Victoria Road, Romford, Essex RM1 2JT
	Snaresbrook Crown Court, Hollybush Hill, Snaresbrook, London E11 1QW
	20 Romford Road, London E15 4BZ
	Walthamstow Magistrates Court, 1a Farnan Avenue, London E17 4TT
	Stratford Magistrates Court, 3890-397 High Street, Stratford, London E15 4SB
	Regarth Chambers, Second Floor, Regarth Avenue, Romford, Essex RM1 1TJ
	Barking Magistrates Court, East Street, Barking, Essex IG11 SEW
	Redbridge Magistrates Court, 850 Cranbrook Road, Ilford, Essex IG6 1HZ
	Norwich Place, Bexleyheath, Kent DA6 7ND
	Crosby House, 9-13 Elmfield Road, Bromley, Kent BR1 1LT
	Bromley Magistrates Court, one London Road, Bromley, Kent BR1 1BY
	Room 203, Magistrates Court, two Barclay Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 3NE
	Church House, 1a Old Palace Road, Croydon, Surrey CRO1AX
	Croydon Crown Court, Altyre Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 SAB
	Abbey Life House, 51 Wandle Road, Croydon, Surrey CRO 1DF
	Bexley Magistrates Court, Albion Road/Highland Road, Bexleyheath, Kent DA67ND
	Kingston Crown Court, 6/8 Penrhyn Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 2BB
	103 Westmead Road, Sutton, Surrey SM1 4JD
	Kingston Magistrates Court, 19-23 High Street, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 1JW
	Richmond Magistrates Court, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2RF
	45 High Street, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Kingston KT1 1LQ
	Biggin Hill Airport, Biggin Hill, Kent TN16 3BN
	Apollo House, 36 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CRO 9YA
	Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 2BY
	Bedford Point, 34-35 Dingwall Road, Croydon, Surrey CRO 9XG
	Part First Floor to Tenth floor, Canterbury House, 2-6 Sydenham Road, Croydon CRO 9XE
	Christopher Wren House, 113 High Street, Croydon, Surrey CRO 1QG
	Electric House, three Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 2AT
	2-6 Sydenham Road, Croydon, Surrey CRO 9XE
	Green Park House, 29 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 2BY
	Landsdowne House, two Landsdowne Road, Croydon Surrey CR9 2ER
	17th and 18th Floors, Leon House, 233 High Street, Croydon, Surrey CRO 9XT
	Metro Point 49, Sydenham Road, Croydon, Surrey CRO 2EU
	Quest House, 11 Cross Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 6EL
	Floors 4-12 St. Annes House 20-26 Wellesley Road, Croydon Surrey CR9 2HL
	Whitgift Block A, 15 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR91AT
	Whitgift Block B, 15 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 1AT
	Whitgift Block C, 15 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 1AT
	Whitgift Block E, 15 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 1AT
	Room 118, Building 820, Terminal three Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex TW6 1SX
	Terminal 1 Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex TW6 1BN
	Terminal 2 Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex TW6 1ND
	Queens Building, Terminal 2 Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex TW6 1EN
	Terminal 3 Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex TW6 1ND
	Terminal 4 Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex TW6 3XB
	Eaton House, 581 Staines Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW4 5DL
	21 High Street, Feltham, Middlesex TW13 4AG
	Handover House, Units 4+5 Fiveways Business Centre Aspen Way, Feltham, Middlesex TW13 7JJ
	Mezzanine, Second and Third Floors, Angel Square, three Torrens Street, London SE1 3QU
	Becket House, 60-68 St Thomas Street, London SE1 3QU
	London City Airport, Royal Docks, Silvertown, London E16 2PX
	Communications House, 210 Old Street, London EC1V 9BR
	Status Park 1, Noble Drive, Harlington, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 5EY
	Status Park 2, Noble Drive, Harlington, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 5EY
	Status Park 3, Noble Drive, Harlington, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 5EY
	Status Park 4, Noble Drive, Harlington, Hayes. Middlesex, UB3 5EY
	Grenadier House, 99-105 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2DD
	Basement, Ground and First Floor Buckingham Gate, 85 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6PD
	Third and Fourth Floors, 10 Great George Street, London SW1P 2AB
	Globe House, 89 Ecclestone Square, London SW1V 1PN
	2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF
	Ground Floor, Allington Towers, 19 Allington Street, London SW1E 5EB
	Floors Two and Five, Morley House, 26-30 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A
	2JQ
	Part Fifth, Seventh and Eight Floors, AMP House, Dingwell Road, Croydon CRO 2LX
	Fifth and Sixth Floors, 90 High Holborn, London WC1V 6BH
	8th-10th floors New Kings Beam House 22 Upper Ground London SE1 9QY
	The following rented offices are not currently occupied by Home Office or other staff:
	 Sublet
	First-Fifth Floors, Allington Towers, 19 Allington Street, London SW1E 5EB
	Second Floor, 10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE
	474-480 Holloway Road, London N7 6HT
	296a Kingston Road, London SW20 8LX
	 Vacant for disposal
	First, Second and Third Floors, 34 Greenwich High Road, London SE10 8LW
	Burghley Hall, 809-813 High Road. London E11 1HQ

Police Records

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests were made to chief constables for the removal of  (a) DNA,  (b) fingerprint and  (c) police national computer records in each of the last five years; and how many of these requests have been granted.

Joan Ryan: There are no central records of the number of requests made to chief officers for the removal of DNA, fingerprints and police national computer (PNC) records and the number which were granted before 2006.
	However, earlier this year the Association of Chief Police Officers issued guidance to chief constables on the consideration of applications for the removal of DNA samples and, as at 9 October 2006, 84 profiles have either been or are being removed, a further 33 cases are pending and 14 samples have been retained. In all but one of these cases, all the records were removed. In one instance the PNC record was retained.

Sex Offenders (Isle of Man)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many sex offenders under supervision orders issued in the Isle of Man were living in  (a) England and  (b) Wales in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.;
	(2)  whether supervision orders issued to sex offenders in the Isle of Man apply in England;
	(3)  if he will introduce legislation to ensure that supervision orders issued to sex offenders in the Isle of Man are applicable in England;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with his Isle of Man counterpart concerning the applicability in England of supervision orders issued to sex offenders in the Isle of Man.

Vernon Coaker: Supervision orders that are issued in other countries or jurisdictions, including the Isle of Man, do not have effect in the United Kingdom. However, the provisions of part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 provide that, when someone is convicted of a sexual offence outside the United Kingdom, the police can apply to a magistrates court for a 'notification order'. A notification order has the effect of requiring the offender to register their details to the police as if they had been convicted of an offence in this country. To be made subject to a notification order, the offender must satisfy three conditions:
	they have been cautioned for or convicted of an offence comparable to one in schedule 3 to the Act, i.e. an offence which requires registration in the United Kingdom;
	the conviction or caution was received on or after 1 September 1997 (the date on which the sex offenders register came into force). Or the offender received his conviction or caution before that date but on one September 1997 was still serving his sentence for the offence; and
	the notification period has not expired.
	In 2004-05, the police in England and Wales obtained 22 notification orders from magistrates.
	The current guidance issued to the police is that, where they know the conditions are met, they should apply for a notification order; they do not need to demonstrate that the order is necessary to protect the public from the risk of serious sexual harm. Furthermore, if the conditions are met, then the legislation states that the magistrate must issue the order. Becoming a registered sex offender will also ensure that the authorities are required to establish arrangements for assessing and managing the risk posed by that offender.
	In addition, where a sex offender has been convicted overseas for a relevant offence (or an equivalent offence) and the police believe that they pose a risk of serious sexual harm to the public, the police can apply for a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) which places restrictions on the individual's behaviour.

Departmental Staff

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of  (a) staff and  (b) new staff employed since April 2005 in (i) his Department and (ii) each of the agencies for which he has responsibility is recorded as disabled.

Gareth Thomas: DFID records of disabled staff are solely based on voluntary declaration of disability under the Disability Discrimination Act and not connected in any way to a formal register of disability. The following figures represent DFID home civil servants only, not staff-appointed-in-country:
	 (a) 48 staff in DFID are recorded as disabled as at September 2006, making up 2.8 per cent. of the total workforce.
	 (b) Since April 2005, three new staff, who are recorded as disabled, were employed in DFID representing 2.48 per cent. of the total number recruited.

Bilderberg Group

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister in which years since 1993  (a) he and  (b) other Government Ministers have attended meetings of the Bilderberg Group.

Tony Blair: The information requested is not held centrally.

Political Memoirs

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister when the Government expects to respond to the report of the Public Administration Select Committee Whitehall Confidential? The publication of political memoirs, (HC689).

Tony Blair: The Government are considering the report of the Public Administration Select Committee, "Whitehall Confidential?" "The publication of political memoirs" and will respond in due course.

Political Memoirs

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister what amendments to the book The Blunkett Tapes were  (a) recommended,  (b) rejected and  (c) accepted during the applicable clearance procedures; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: My right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) submitted his draft manuscript to the Cabinet Secretary as required by the ministerial code, Any discussions between an author and the Cabinet Office on a draft manuscript are confidential.

Fraud

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Solicitor-General what plans he has to protect small companies from overseas fraudsters.

Mike O'Brien: The Fraud Review proposes a National Fraud Strategic Authority and a National Fraud Reporting Centre, to collate information on fraud. This will help alert businesses and individuals to particular fraud risk.
	The Fraud Bill, creates a new offence of fraud as well as criminalising fraudulent trading by sole traders and partnerships. These provisions along with others on money laundering will assist in protecting companies and individuals from fraudsters.

Crown Prosecution Service

David Kidney: To ask the Solicitor-General what changes to the Crown Prosecution Service will be required to enable bulk processing arrangements for simple non-contested criminal cases.

Mike O'Brien: It is too early to tell. Before the CPS can identify what changes it may need to make, it needs to know the extent of the bulk processing scheme, the location of the sites; and the procedural arrangements to be adopted in court.
	The CPS is committed improving the processing of simple non-criminal cases. It is fully involved in discussions with CJS partners to determine how current procedures may be improved.

Intercept Evidence

David Borrow: To ask the Solicitor-General what conclusion the Attorney-General has drawn from his recent discussions in the US on the use of intercepted material as evidence.

Mike O'Brien: The Americans told the Attorney-General on his recent visit that they regard intercept evidence as an important tool in combating serious organised crime. The Government believe that if it is possible to use intercept evidence in court in a way that does not put at risk our security services, then we should do so. We are examining ways in which this might be done but the issues around using intercept as evidence are serious ones.

Audit Firms

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to require audit firms to disclose their contingency plans in case of failure.

Ian McCartney: The Financial Reporting Council, which is leading the debate on competition and choice in the audit market, published a briefing paper in September following a public consultation. This addresses not only the promotion of increased choice, but also the steps that might be taken to reduce the risk of an existing firm leaving the market, and to reduce the uncertainty and disruption in the event of an audit firm leaving the market. Further work is in hand and the FRC is planning to publish a progress report in the first quarter of 2007.
	The revised EU audit directive, due to be implemented by June 2008, also contains provisions requiring auditors of public interest entities to make annual public reports on, as well as other matters, their internal governance, and their internal quality systems. The Financial Reporting Council are presently consulting on the details of how that might be implemented.

Bank Charges

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Office of Fair Trading recommendations on bank charges will come into effect.

Ian McCartney: The Office of Fair Trading recommendations relate to credit card default charges. The OFT have stated that they believe that credit card default charges had been generally set at a significantly higher level than was fair and set a £12 threshold for OFT intervention unless there were exceptional business factors. In response to this, credit card issuers have agreed to reduce their default charges—the majority by almost half.
	As a result of these reductions in charges across the market, the OFT is satisfied that no further intervention is warranted in this area at this time and that this change has brought about substantial benefits for consumers. The OFT remains of the view that the broad principles do read across to the retail banking area and has decided to undertake further work on the application of these principles to bank current accounts. This fact-finding exercise is expected to take between three to six months, at which stage the OFT will consider whether a further detailed investigation of the fairness of individual bank default charges is needed.

British Nuclear Fuels Limited

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with  (a) the British Nuclear Group,  (b) the National Decommissioning Authority and  (c) the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate on the proposed sale of British Nuclear Fuels Limited.

Malcolm Wicks: None in relation to a sale of BNFL but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had discussions this week with BNFL, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in order to determine whether he should approve a joint proposal from BNFL and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority that the opening up of the clean up market to competition should proceed in a different manner from that envisaged in the then Secretary of State's announcement to the House on 30 March,  Official Report, columns 97-98WS.
	The issue is complex and requires careful consideration. It is important to get the right decision for the company, for the employees, for the UK's long term nuclear clean up market and for the taxpayer. We will make a further statement as soon as we have fully considered the issues and reached a decision.

Crown Post Office

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Crown post offices are being considered for franchising in  (a) Greater Manchester and  (b) England.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Decisions on individual Post Office branches are operational matters for which the management of Post Office Ltd (POL) have direct responsibility. I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member on the issues he has raised concerning the franchising of services.

Departmental Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent by his Department on food and alcohol for its staff working out of office in each year since 2001-02.

Jim Fitzpatrick: All subsistence expenditure is incurred in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.
	Further information is not held centrally and is only available at disproportionate cost.

Energy Liabilities Committee

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the membership was of the Energy Liabilities Committee set up by his Department in 1998; how long it was in existence; and on how many occasions the Committee met.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 11 October 2006
	The Energy Liabilities Committee was formed solely of DTI officials. It existed from 1998 to 2002. Information regarding the total number of meetings held is not readily available.

Export Licences

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the military list classification was of all goods refused relevant export licences in the latest year for which figures are available, broken down by country.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government publish detailed information on its export licensing decisions, including refused licences, by military list entry reference and destination, in its Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls. The Government's latest Annual Report for 2005, is available from the Libraries of the House and at
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=l007029395474
	The most recent Quarterly Report for April to June 2006, is available at the DTI Export Control Organisation website at
	http://www.dti.gov.uk/europeandtade/strategic-export-control/licensing-rating/statistics/issued-refused-revoked/page34249.html

Nuclear Industry

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the Bectel study which was undertaken into the structure of the nuclear industry.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer to the answer which I gave the hon. Member on 7 November 2005,  Official Report, column 38W.

Post Office

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Royal Mail on its decision to propose the closure of Gloucester and Reading sorting offices; if he will publish the evaluation report that made this proposal; and whether environmental factors were included in the report.

Jim Fitzpatrick: No discussions have taken place on this matter. This is an operational matter for which Royal Mail has direct responsibility. I have therefore asked the chief executive of Royal Mail, Adam Crozier, to provide a direct reply to the hon. Member.

Trade

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of gross national product (GNP) was traded with  (a) the EU,  (b) the US and  (c) the rest of the world for each year since 1980; and what percentage of GNP was traded in each year.

Ian McCartney: Figures for exports and imports of goods and services as a percentage of UK gross national income are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   (a) European Union 15  (b) United States  (c) Rest of the World  Total 
			 1980 — — — 52.7 
			 1981 — — — 51.0 
			 1982 — — — 51.3 
			 1983 — — — 52.2 
			 1984 — — — 56.9 
			 1985 — — — 57.1 
			 1986 — — — 52.2 
			 1987 — — — 52.3 
			 1988 — — — 49.8 
			 1989 — — — 51.8 
			 1990 — — — 51.3 
			 1991 — — — 47.9 
			 1992 27.2 6.5 15.0 48.7 
			 1993 27.7 7.5 17.1 52.3 
			 1994 28.8 7.7 17.3 53.7 
			 1995 31.3 8.0 18.1 57.4 
			 1996 31.7 8.7 19.0 59.4 
			 1997 30.0 8.6 18.8 57.4 
			 1998 28.9 8.4 16.9 54.2 
			 1999 29.3 8.7 16.7 54.7 
			 2000 30.2 9.4 18.5 58.1 
			 2001 30.1 9.0 17.9 57.0 
			 2002 29.5 8.3 16.8 54.6 
			 2003 27.9 7.9 17.2 53.0 
			 2004 27.2 7.5 18.0 52.6 
			 2005 28.1 7.2 19.6 55.0 
			  Notes:  1. Gross national income is measured at market prices.  2. A geographical breakdown is not available on a consistent basis before 1992.  3. European Union 15 covers trade with Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, European institutions, and the ECB. Also including Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia would give figures of 28.3 in 2004 and 29.4 in 2005.

Bembridge Harbour

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 September 2006,  Official Report, column 2262W, on Bembridge Harbour, what steps he has taken to secure compliance with the statutory requirement that accounts of the Bembridge Harbour Improvement Company be lodged annually with his Department.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has written to the Bembridge Harbour Improvements Company reminding them of their obligations under the Act.

Cycling

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of making cycling without a protective helmet an offence.

Stephen Ladyman: At current cycle helmet wearing rates, making them compulsory would cause enforcement difficulties and without greater public acceptance could have an adverse effect on the levels of cycling. The Department believes it is sensible for cyclists, and especially children, to protect themselves by wearing a cycle helmet, and we encourage them to do so. A review commissioned by the Department concluded that overall there is evidence that bicycle helmets can be effective at reducing the incidence and severity of head, brain and upper facial injuries and that they can be effective in reducing injury for users of all ages, though particularly for children. The report also concludes that there is evidence that compulsory helmet wearing may discourage some people from cycling, leading to decreased bicycle use.

Eurostar

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held about the potential sale of surplus regional Eurostar rolling stock to the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer for use on domestic French rail services.

Tom Harris: The trains are owned by Eurostar UK Ltd (EUKL) but EUKL require the consent of the Secretary of State for Transport before transferring them to a third party. EUKL sought consent in February to a proposal to lease the trains to SNCF and the Department confirmed in March that consent had been given. I expect the transfer to be completed shortly.

West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to permit the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority to be a co-signatory to the West Midlands franchise.

Tom Harris: As set out in both the Transport and Rail White Papers, the Government are keen to devolve greater decision making to local and regional bodies. Local decision making can only be effective and efficient where the body making the decision is exposed to the financial implications of that decision.
	The published DfT guidance note "The new system for the role of English PTEs in the rail franchising process" sets out how PTEs can procure changes to local rail services in their areas without being co-signatories to franchise agreements. Centro PTE is seeking to make an economic case for retaining co-signatory status in relation to the West Midlands franchise. In order to establish the costs of such status more clearly, a view will be sought on the cost implications from the successful bidder for the franchise prior to conclusion of the franchise agreement.

Company Law Reform

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reasons underlay his decision to remove provisions for Operating and Financial Reviews from the Company Law Reform Bill.

Edward Balls: The Government concluded that a requirement for an enhanced Business Review, in line with the requirements of the European Accounts Modernisation Directive, is preferable to a requirement for a statutory Operating and Financial Review for quoted companies. This is consistent with the Government's approach to company law reform of simplifying company law, reducing the regulatory burden on business and promoting effective shareholder engagement. The enhanced Business Review will meet key narrative reporting requirements and preserve the appropriate financial and other key reporting requirements of the OFR, specifically including information relating to employee and environmental issues, where these are relevant to an understanding of the business, while imposing considerably less cost than the Operating and Financial Review. The new reporting regime demonstrates the Government's ongoing commitment to strategic forward-looking narrative reporting.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter of 31 August from the hon. Member for Walsall North in relation to VAT ref: 27433/2006.

Dawn Primarolo: I have replied to the hon. Member.

Departmental Staff

Jeremy Hunt: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of  (a) staff and  (b) new staff employed since April 2005 in (i) his Department and (ii) each of the agencies for which he has responsibility is recorded as disabled.

John Healey: The number of staff recorded as disabled, including joiners and leavers since 2003, is published on the Cabinet Office website: http://civilservice.gov.uk/management/statistics/reports/index.asp. The number of leavers and joiners recorded as disabled prior to 2003 is as follows:
	
		
			   Joiners  Leavers 
			   Percentage of total 
			 2001 2.1 0.92 
			 2002 1.8 1.49 
		
	
	The actual numbers of joiners and leavers are less than 10 and have therefore not been disclosed in order to protect the anonymity of individuals.

Departmental Staff (Sickness Absence)

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2006,  Official Report, column 414W, on sickness absence, how many staff in his Department have had  (a) more than two and  (b) five or more periods of sickness of less than five days in two or more of the years for which he has provided figures.

John Healey: The number of staff who had  (a) more than two and  (b) more than five periods of sickness of less than five days in two or more of the last three years are as follows:
	
		
			  Spells of sickness absence 
			   (a) Two, three or four spells  (b) Five or more spells 
			 Had absence in 2003-04 and 2004-05 73 17 
			 Had absence in 2004-05 and 2005-06 67 17 
			 Had absence in all three years 46 10

Distribution and Services Sector

Vincent Cable: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether an assessment has been made of the feasibility of sending out to businesses electronically the Office of National Statistics' Monthly Enquiry into the Distribution and Services Sector;
	(2)  what the cost of the Office of National Statistics' Monthly Enquiry into the Distribution and Services Sector was in each of the last three years;
	(3)  for what purposes data are collected through the Office of National Statistics' Monthly Enquiry into the Distribution and Services Sector;
	(4)  how many people have been prosecuted under section 4 of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947 for failing to complete the Office of National Statistics' Monthly Enquiry into the Distribution and Services Sector form in each year since 1976.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 12 October 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions on the Monthly Inquiry into the Distribution and Services Sector (MIDSS). (92734, 92735, 92736 & 92737).
	Methods of secure electronic collection for MIDSS will be developed over the next few years as part of a wider statistical modernisation programme. For most of our shorter business surveys we already offer an electronic means to return data using our automated telephone data entry system. This method of data collection is fully available for MIDSS.
	The annual direct cost of MIDSS to ONS for the last three years was approximately £2.1 million per annum. MIDSS is the main source of information about the activity of the UK service sector in the short term. It is the most important component of the Index of Services (IoS), which itself forms part of the output measure of GDP within the UK's quarterly national accounts. Other MIDSS customers include: HM Treasury in their analysis and assessment of macro-economic developments; the devolved authorities for regional accounting purposes; the Bank of England in their analysis of IoS for the Monetary Policy Committee; and the Department of Trade and Industry for operational use and to help inform policy. MIDSS data are also required by Eurostat under the EU Short Term Statistics Regulation.
	MIDSS was established in 2000. To date, eight businesses have been prosecuted under section 4 of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947 for failing to complete and return the
	questionnaire. MIDSS replaced a combination of quarterly and monthly surveys into turnover which commenced in 1991. Prior to this, there were no regular short term turnover surveys covering the distributive and services sector.

HM Revenue and Customs

Michael Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the HM Revenue and Customs officials who allowed the Kurdish Baybasin gang to come to the UK to pursue their drug trafficking and other illegal operations have been dismissed.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 16 June 2006
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) never comment publicly on such allegations.
	Historically and currently, strict legislative and procedural requirements govern the use of human sources of intelligence by Law Enforcement agencies. Guidance on all HMRC activities conforms to the prevailing legislative and procedural requirements.

HM Revenue and Customs

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many anti-fraud/compliance officers were employed by the Inland Revenue and HM Revenue and Customs in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06, broken down by grade; and how many of each grade are expected to be employed in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of full time equivalent staff, by grade, employed in HMRC's operational compliance and enforcement directorates at 1 April 2006 is shown in the following table. This includes some support and processing staff.
	
		
			  Number 
			  SCS  Grade 6  Grade 7  Fast Stream  SEO  HEO  EO  AO  AA  Total 
			 121 586 1,305 566 1,927 6,943 12,317 5,725 2,164 31,654 
		
	
	There are no comparable figures for the previous year as the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise, which merged to form HMRC on 18 April 2005, were organised differently both from each other and from HMRC. Over 1,000 investigative staff also transferred from HMRC to the new Serious Organised Crime Agency towards the end of 2005-06. No estimates by grade are yet available for 2006-07 and 2007-8.

Home Information Packs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's consultation on Home Information Pack regulations.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	Representation on the Home Condition Report register was made by the Valuation Office Agency on 11 August 2005. The information was provided in confidence as it relates to potential developments in the Agency's business in which decisions have yet to be taken. Disclosure would therefore be inappropriate.
	The Valuation Office Agency will not have access to a Home Condition Report register: this will be limited to buyers, sellers, their advisers and mortgage lenders and those monitoring the performance and quality of the reports.

Illegal Imports

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what ways his Department has heightened public awareness about the prohibitions and restrictions on the import of illegal items into the UK.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs provides a range of publicity activities to raise public awareness of import prohibitions and restrictions, including media campaigns aimed at advising travellers of what they may and may not bring back into the UK. In particular, since April this year, HMRC has included information about prohibitions and restrictions in the following activities:
	an updated Notice No.1 "A Customs Guide for Travellers entering the UK" issued in July 2006;
	a number of local radio broadcasts and news releases that have generated over 60 written articles in newspapers, magazines and websites.
	HMRC's work on illegal imports of products of animal origin includes a number of activities as part of a joint programme with DEFRA, including leaflets, posters and advertising. Additional measures to alert travellers to countries reporting outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza have included issuing a new "bird flu" leaflet and posters and placing special bins in Red Channel and Red Point areas for disposal of any animal products held by incoming passengers.

Renewable Energy Systems

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  for what reason energy from asphalt road systems is excluded from the renewable energy systems to which the enhanced capital allowance scheme applies;
	(2)  if he will extend the enhanced capital allowance scheme to include systems that create energy by use of asphalt road systems.

John Healey: The Carbon Trust administers the enhanced capital allowance scheme for energy-saving technologies (ECA) and considers the merits of further technology classes for recommendation for inclusion within the scheme. The detailed information that the Carbon Trust requires to consider a new technology class is included on the EGA website. The case for a new technology class for the plant and machinery components of road energy systems can be considered by the Carbon Trust when they have received the information necessary from industry.

Renewable Energy Systems

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how often the list of renewable energy systems included in the enhanced capital allowance scheme is reviewed; and when the last review was carried out.

John Healey: The list of qualifying technologies for the enhanced capital allowance scheme for energy-saving technologies is reviewed annually. The latest Energy Technology List was published by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 2 August 2006.

Stem Cell Research

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what involvement he had in the establishment and membership of the UK Stem Cell Initiative.

John Healey: The Chancellor announced the establishment of the UK Stem Cell Initiative in the Budget of 16 March, 2005 to formulate a ten-year vision for stem cell research. Sir John Pattison was commissioned at this time to chair the Initiative. Sir John then invited, on the advice of officials, a panel of public and private stakeholders to support him in producing the Initiative's report.

Tax Credits

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer since what date all telephone calls from claimants to HM Revenue and Customs concerning tax credits have been digitised and recoverable on computer.

Dawn Primarolo: Calls to HMRC's tax credit helpline have been digitally recorded since the Helpline opened in 2002.
	An online facility to enable appropriately authorised users to search and replay calls remotely is currently being implemented within HMRC contact centres.

Tax Credits

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average waiting time has been on the tax credit customer helpline in the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: Overall, the average waiting time for callers to HMRC's Tax Credit helpline in the 12 months to 30 September 2006 was 35 seconds.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the contracts of staff working for the operational services department of the tax credits office in Newscastle from March 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Operational Services Unit ceased to exist as a separate business stream from 29 September 2006. The staff working on tax credit processing became part of the Tax Credit Office.

Tax Revenue

Philip Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the UK paid  (a) stamp duty and  (b) capital gains tax in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 1997-98 and (iii) 1979-80; and what each figure represents as a percentage of the population in each year.

Edward Balls: The available information is given in the following table. Figures for 1979-80 are not available.
	
		
			   1997-98  2005-06 
			 Number of residential liable transactions (1)665 (2)873 
			 Geographical entity England, Wales and Northern Ireland United Kingdom 
			 As percentage of population 1.25 1.45 
			 (1) Number of transactions above stamp duty threshold (£60,000). No information available on reliefs.  (2 )This figure is net of transactions above the stamp duty threshold (£120,000) where stamp duty was not payable due to the use of reliefs, eg disadvantaged area relief. 
		
	
	The total number of people, and trusts, in the UK, who pay capital gains tax is published on the HM Revenue and Customs website in table 14.1 at the following address: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/capital_gains/menu.htm.
	The numbers for the required years are given as follows. Figures for 2005-06 are not available so figures for the latest available year, 2004-05, have been given (populations used were mid-1979, mid-1997 and mid-2004 respectively).
	
		
			   Number of taxpayers (thousand)  Percentage of population (mid-1979, mid-1997, mid-2004) 
			 1979-80 212 0.38 
			 1997-98 170 0.29 
			 2004-05 186 0.31 
		
	
	A direct comparison across these years is misleading as before the introduction of 'Independent Taxation' in 1990-91 each taxpaying married couple counted as one individual. Since 1990-91 husbands and wives both with CGT liabilities have been counted separately.

UK Investment

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much UK investment was made abroad in each year since 2001; and how much foreign investment was made into the UK as a percentage of total investment in the UK in each such year.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 12 October 2006:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how much UK investment was made abroad in each year since 2001; and how much foreign investment was made into the UK as a percentage of total investment in the UK in each such year. (92784)
	
		
			  £ billion 
			   UK investment abroad  Foreign investment in the UK  Total investment in the UK  % foreign investment 
			 2001 307.3 324.8 704.5 46 
			 2002 181.4 188.6 618.6 30 
			 2003 346.3 366.8 938.2 39 
			 2004 540.8 546.4 1191.7 46 
			 2005 719.5 738.1 1381.7 53 
		
	
	The above table shows UK investment abroad and foreign investment in the UK. The data are consistent with the Sector and Financial Accounts published on 27 September 2006 and available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme economy/ukea2006q2.pdf

Valuation Office Agency

Michael Gove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 18 July 2006,  Official Report, column 367W, on the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), for what purpose the VOA purchased ACORN data; and how much was spent on the purchase.

Dawn Primarolo: VOA purchased the data concerned, at a cost of £48,650 excluding VAT, to inform judgments about the extent of geographic areas subject to the same or similar market forces.

Benefit Payments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the total amount of  (a) Social Fund payments,  (b) winter fuel payments,  (c) attendance allowance,  (d) disability living allowance,  (e) carer's allowance,  (f) retirement pension,  (g) bereavement benefits,  (h) maternity allowance,  (i) reduced earnings allowance,  (j) retirement allowance,  (k) income support,  (l) jobseeker's allowance,  (m) pension credit and  (n) statutory sick pay erroneously paid to prisoners due to (i) fraud, (ii) customer error and (iii) official error in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 13 September 2006,  Official Report, column 2369W.

Change Management Director

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will appoint a Director of Change Management for the Department.

Anne McGuire: Stephen Holt was appointed Director of Change Management on 6 September 2006.

Disability Conciliation Service

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much the Disability Conciliation Service recovered for successful claimants in respect of cases it took up on their behalf in 2005-06;
	(2)  what the cost was of the Disability Conciliation Service in 2005-06.

Anne McGuire: The Disability Conciliation Service, which was established by the Disability Rights Commission, seeks to resolve disputes arising under Parts 3 and 4 of the Disability Discrimination Act. It is not possible to provide a value for the amount recovered for successful claimants, because compensation is provided in the form of goods and services as well as in monetary terms. The cost of the Disability Conciliation Service in 2005-06 was £248,000.

Financial Assistance Scheme

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when distribution of funds will be made from the Financial Assistance scheme to members of the eligible employee pension schemes.

James Purnell: The first payments were made in December 2005. Payments are made from age 65 to all eligible members of those pension schemes which have requested payment and provided us with the required data.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on setting up the Financial Assistance scheme.

James Purnell: Our latest estimates are that over the first three years up to March 2007 we will spend around £4.5 million on the costs of setting up the scheme (and around £5.9 million on administration). The one off set up costs cover opening the operational unit and building the necessary IT systems.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether there is a central computer system with all the data completed for people qualifying for the Financial Assistance scheme.

James Purnell: Yes, there is a computer system in the FAS operational unit that holds details of eligible scheme members being paid and due to be paid in the future.

Medical Assessment Reports

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many medical assessment reports were assessed as substandard in relation to the administration of  (a) disability living allowance and  (b) attendance allowance in the last period for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: Between September 2005 and June 2006, there were a total of 88 medical reports for disability living allowance and attendance allowance that were categorised as C grade. During the same period, there were 1434 medical reports that were categorised as A grade and 547 medical reports that were categorised as B grade for disability living allowance and attendance allowance. No further breakdown of the figures between the two benefits is available.
	All Medical Reports are graded A, B with C grades failing the audit.
	The grading of medical reports is an agreed medical audit procedure. Whilst C grades medical reports indicate that there is scope for improvement, it does not automatically follow that a C grade report would not be found fit for purpose.

Pension Protection Fund

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the financial effect on private companies of the contributions required of them for the Pension Protection Fund.

James Purnell: In December 2005 the PPF published an estimate of the total amount of levy that would need to be collected for the 2006-07 levy year. This estimate was £575 million. The proportion of that total amount payable by an individual scheme is calculated on a scheme specific basis, based on the risk of that scheme entering into the PPF while also ensuring the cost to individual schemes is both affordable and proportionate. The PPF consulted on their proposals for levy calculation in 2005 and they were well received by industry. The PPF also included in their proposals incentives for schemes to reduce the amount of levy payable such as by putting contingent asset arrangements in place.
	The PPF has also put in place a cap to ensure no scheme pays more than the equivalent of 0.5 per cent. of its liabilities. For individual schemes, the cost of a levy at £575 million will be broadly comparable to the amount spent on administration costs or fund management charges.

Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of how long it would take to complete the pension law re-write project discussed in paragraphs 2.46 and 2.47 of the Pensions White Paper, 'Security in Retirement; Towards a New Pension System'; and what level of resources he estimates his Department would have to devote to such a project.

James Purnell: The Government are presently considering the consultation responses received on this proposal and how best to take the proposed pilot forward.

Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assumptions underpin Figure 1.xiv of the Pensions White Paper Security in retirement: Towards a New Pension System concerning the employer contributions paid after 2012 by employers who currently offer pension benefits  (a) to individuals who are already members of these schemes or who join by 2012,  (b) to individuals who would not receive employer contributions without auto-enrolment but do receive these contributions as a result of auto-enrolment and  (c) to individuals who would join the schemes after 2012 even without auto-enrolment.

James Purnell: The assumptions that underpin Figure 1.xiv of the Pensions White Paper Security in retirement: Towards a New Pension System concerning the employer contributions paid after 2012 by employers who currently offer pension benefits are as follows:
	(a) For individuals who are already members of these schemes or who join by 2012 we have assumed: no change in membership; no change in employer contribution for employers that offer three percent or more; and that employers that offer less than three per cent will offer three per cent when personal accounts come into force.
	(b) For individuals who would not receive employer contributions without auto-enrolment but do receive these contributions as a result of auto-enrolment we have assumed that:
	(i) 3.3 million employees who work for employers currently running pension schemes with a three percent or more employer contribution will be automatically enrolled, whether into an existing scheme or a personal account. We assumed that around one-third will opt out, implying an increase in pension membership of 1.7 million. We have estimated the cost to employers based on a three per cent employer contribution.
	(ii) 7.5 million employees who work for employers that run pension schemes with contributions of less than three per cent will be automatically enrolled, whether into existing scheme or personal accounts. We assumed that around one-third will opt out, implying an increase of 5.3 million individuals receiving an employer contribution of three per cent and a further increase in pension membership of 3.5 million.
	(c) We assume that individuals who would join the schemes after 2012 even without auto-enrolment replace similar existing scheme members at constant cost.

Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has undertaken of how the aggregate amount of private saving would be affected over time if all employers offered pension contributions to new and existing employees in the way assumed in table 1.xiv of the Pensions White Paper Security in retirement: Towards a New Pension System.

James Purnell: The key finding from our recent analysis is quoted in paragraph 2.117 Security in retirement: towards a new pension system Regulatory Impact Assessment and technical appendices.
	"The Government estimates that around £4-5 billion of new savings each year would be delivered by personal accounts. This estimate is supported by recent work undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers for DWP. Any reductions in existing pension saving might have some impact on particular parts of the sector, though this is likely to be outweighed across the sector as a whole by the potential opportunity to administer and invest new savings being made into personal accounts."
	The underlying analysis was published on August 1 2006: Review of research relevant to assessing the impact of the proposed National Savings Scheme on household savings by John Hawkworth, PricewaterhouseCoopers, DWP research report no 373.

Terminally Ill (Benefits)

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations his Department has received regarding fast tracking benefits claims for terminally-ill patients.

Anne McGuire: There are currently a number of special rules within the benefit system to take account of the particular circumstances of people with terminal illnesses. For example, there are special rules to help terminally ill people who are not expected to live longer than six months to receive immediate payment of higher rate attendance allowance or the highest rate care component of disability living allowance without the need to meet the normal entitlement conditions. These claims are currently processed in an average of five to six days
	As part of the ongoing dialogue with stakeholders following the Welfare Reform Green Paper, the issue of fast tracking terminally ill people onto the main phase of ESA has been raised, including by Macmillan Cancer Support. Our response to the Welfare Reform consultation exercise was published in June 2006, the Welfare Reform Bill was introduced on 3 July and we continue to discuss the development of proposals with a range of stakeholders.